Chelsea has agreed to sign Brighton striker Joao Pedro in a deal worth up to £60m, with the Brazilian forward set to join the Club World Cup squad.

Chelsea has confirmed the signing of Brighton striker Joao Pedro in a deal worth up to £60m. The 23-year-old Brazilian forward has agreed to a seven-year contract with the Blues and will fly to the USA to undergo a medical before joining Enzo Maresca’s side at the Club World Cup.

Pedro will be eligible to play for Chelsea in the tournament, and he could potentially make his debut in the quarterfinals against Palmeiras on Saturday.

The transfer comes after Newcastle had a bid of around £50m rejected last week. It is understood that Pedro only wanted to join Chelsea, and the Blues have good relations with Brighton, who will also benefit from a sell-on clause in the deal. Watford, who sold Pedro to Brighton for £35m in 2023, will receive 20% of the profit from this deal.

Pedro is seen as a versatile forward who can play as a No. 9 and across the front line, and Chelsea view him as a significant addition to their squad. The Brazilian international will join Chelsea at the Club World Cup, and his arrival is expected to strengthen the team’s attacking options.

In addition to Pedro’s signing, Chelsea is also on the verge of signing Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund.

The 20-year-old will sign a seven-year contract with Chelsea after completing his medical, but he will not be eligible to play for the Blues at the Club World Cup due to already featuring in Dortmund’s first group game. The fee for Gittens is set to be €65m (£55.5m), and both signings are expected to bolster Chelsea’s squad for the upcoming season.