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Since Todd Boehly assumed control three years ago, CHELSEA has signed an astounding 47 players.
Yet, a significant number of these acquisitions have failed to leave a notable mark.
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Many of these players have barely stepped foot on the pitch in Chelsea colors, and some haven’t even represented the team at all.
Among them is 20-year-old Andrey Santos.
The Brazilian signed with Chelsea from Rio de Janeiro’s Vasco da Gama in 2023 but has yet to make his senior debut.
After a lackluster loan stint with Nottingham Forest last season, where he appeared in only two matches, he is now enjoying a remarkable breakout season with Strasbourg in France.
There, he shares the field with goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, who has made 31 appearances during his loan and has also caught the eye of many.
Both players have quickly become fan favorites at the club.
Santos embodies the future of Chelsea’s midfield, and the team is eager to integrate him into their plans for the 2025/26 Premier League season.
After watching his performance this season and monitoring Petrovic’s progress, I took a trip to Strasbourg to see them go head-to-head with OGC Nice—here’s my analysis of both players…
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ANDREY SANTOS – MIDFIELDER – 20 Y/O
MY VIEW
Santos is a versatile midfielder with a tenacious play style, influenced by box-to-box icon Patrick Vieira during his guidance last season.
I approached the Stade de Meinau with some doubts regarding his capabilities based on what I had read online, but he exceeded my expectations.
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The young Brazilian was honored with the fans’ Player of the Month award to thunderous applause ahead of the match against Nice and has captained the team this season at just 20 years old.
With his collar turned up, he channels the confidence of Eric Cantona, complemented by impressive technical skills—he hardly misplaces a pass and maintains his defensive presence when needed.
Santos recorded two assists, one for Sam Amo-Ameyaw and another for Emmanuel Emegha, earning the Man of the Match title despite Nice equalizing late in the game.
THE STATS VIEW
In 27 league appearances this season, Andrey Santos has netted NINE goals and produced four assists while playing as a box-to-box midfielder.
This goal tally matches Nicolas Jackson’s while he trails Enzo Fernandez by just one assist in the Premier League.
He holds an average match rating of 7.78 as per Futmob, and his nine goals derive from an Expected Goal tally (xG) of 4.37—a statistic where Chelsea has often underperformed.
Among midfielders under 21 in Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks FIRST for goals, possession won, interceptions, duels won, forward passes, and fouls suffered. (Stats @DataMB)
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THE FANS VIEW
Supporters of Strasbourg recognize Santos’s potential to become one of their greatest players, and if the club qualifies for the UCL this season, he could become a fan favorite.
There is a common sentiment of regret among fans that he’s under BlueCo ownership, with many anticipating his absence will be greatly felt when he returns to Chelsea in the summer.
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Andrey Santos is a generational talent, and one day we will look back with pride when he lifts the World Cup with Brazil, recalling that he played here at the Meinau.
Lionel
VERDICT
Santos should certainly be a part of Chelsea’s plans for next season, likely filling the role that the injured Romeo Lavia had hoped to occupy, or serving as a tactical substitute to offer Moises Caicedo or Enzo Fernandez some relief.
His inclusion will undoubtedly complicate Maresca’s selection process, especially if it pushes Caicedo into an inverted RB position as seen earlier this season, meaning dropping club captain Reece James.
At the very least, he will strengthen the squad’s depth.
DJORDJE PETROVIC – GOALKEEPER – 25 Y/O
MY VIEW
The conversations regarding Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation this season have been justified.
Robert Sanchez exemplifies the mixed outcomes common in the position, having the highest save percentage in the Premier League at 74.5%, yet also leading with five errors that resulted in goals…
Djordje Petrovic was loaned to Strasbourg to improve his ball-playing capacity, as his shot-stopping ability was never in question during his tenure as Chelsea’s number one.
His progress in this aspect has been evident, regularly delivering accurate, direct passes to the deepest midfielder, in this case, Andrey Santos, who can quickly initiate an offensive play for the team.
The only concern I had while watching his performance against Nice was his handling of high balls; there were a few moments where he seemed vulnerable at the back post, relying on poor finishing from opponents to avoid mistakes.
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THE STATS VIEW
Data suggests that Petrovic has been among the top contenders for best goalkeeper across Europe’s elite leagues this season.
He ranks first in completed passes and short passes while sitting second in goals prevented. (@DataMB)
In Ligue 1, he has made NO errors leading to goals, a stark contrast to Robert Sanchez, who has the highest number of such errors in the Premier League with FIVE.
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THE FANS VIEW
Supporters in Strasbourg have a keen eye for exceptional goalkeepers.
The disparity in quality between Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels and Robert Sanchez at Stamford Bridge was obvious, with Sels often being the trusted choice for six seasons at RCSA.
Discussing Djordje Petrovic, lifelong Strasbourg fan Alex shared:
“Petrovic reminds me of a young Petr Cech. While he faces scrutiny regarding his ball-playing skills, if I’m protecting a slim lead, he is among the top five goalkeepers I’d trust globally. It’s surprising that Maresca chose Sanchez over him.”
Alex
VERDICT
He has earned the right to reclaim Chelsea’s No. 1 position next season.
His evolution into a dependable keeper with enhanced ball-handling abilities is clearly noted by Enzo Maresca.
