- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
João Pedro has been named Chelsea Player of the Season for 2025-26 after scoring 20 goals and providing 9 assists in 50 appearances. The 25-year-old Brazilian joined from Brighton in 2025 and has formed a close bond with teammate Cole Palmer.
The forward told ESPN he assured Palmer he was not arriving to displace him. "I told him I was coming to help, that I didn't want to take his spot," João Pedro said. A friendship developed between the pair that extends beyond the pitch.
João Pedro has started this season strongly with 5 goals and 3 assists in 6 Premier League appearances. He operates in an attacking trio alongside Palmer and Morgan Rogers under manager Xabi Alonso, who employs a 3-4-2-1 formation. Chelsea currently sit fourth in the Premier League.
Despite his club success, João Pedro was omitted from Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad by Carlo Ancelotti. He previously played for Watford from 2020 to 2023, remaining with the club after their relegation to the second division in May 2022 before moving to Brighton and then Chelsea.
Source: ESPN - Fri Oct 23, 4:34 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).