Payback time as Pedro goals cover part of transfer fee

Very few new signings have made an instant sporting and economic impact in the same way that striker Joao Pedro did for Chelsea, as his goals took his new side to the FIFA Club World Cup final in a 2-0 victory over Fluminense on Tuesday.

Joao Pedro of Chelsea reacts after scoring his first goal during the semifinal match between Fluminense FC (Brazil) and Chelsea FC (England) at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 at the MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, the United States, July 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ming)

Pedro only signed from Brighton & Hove Albion a week ago, flying straight to the United States from Brazil to join up with his new side, as he was allowed to play in the Club World Cup - unlike Jamie Gittens, who has also joined Chelsea but is unable to play in the tournament as he has already represented Borussia Dortmund.

It took Pedro just 18 minutes to open the scoring with a stunning curling shot into the corner of the Fluminense net.

He sealed the win 11 minutes into the second half after latching onto Enzo Fernandez's through ball and scoring with a shot that bounced off the crossbar and into the net.

The fact Pedro scored goals after so little time adapting to his new teammates could be a sign that Chelsea's long search for a center-forward is finally over.

In just one game, Pedro has already paid back a big chunk of his transfer fee. Chelsea paid Brighton 55 million pounds (75 million U.S. dollars) for his services, and by taking Chelsea to the final against either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid, he has already earned the club a further 21 million pounds in prize money - over a third of his fee.

If Chelsea wins the final and Pedro scores again, he will have already paid for himself.