Chelsea Could Have Lost £54m Star as People Close to Him Wanted Him to Leave in the Summer

According to a report by The Chelsea Chronicle on October 20, 2026, people close to Chelsea winger Pedro Neto wanted him to leave Stamford Bridge during the summer transfer window amid interest from several Premier League clubs.

The Portugal international attracted attention from Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur before the transfer window closed. However, Chelsea reportedly placed a £100 million valuation on the 26-year-old winger, preventing any potential suitors from securing his signature.

According to The Standard, people in Neto’s circle wanted him to move to another club during the summer, meaning the winger might not have remained at Chelsea if their wishes had been fulfilled.

Chelsea had a busy summer transfer window, with several players leaving the club in significant deals. Enzo Fernandez, Andrey Santos and Marc Cucurella were among the names linked to major departures in the report, while Fernandez’s reported £125 million move to Manchester City made him Chelsea’s record sale.

Neto was another player who could have generated substantial revenue for the Blues, particularly given the reported interest in his services. However, Chelsea’s £100 million asking price proved too expensive for interested clubs, ensuring that the winger remained at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso will be pleased that Neto stayed at the club, considering his impressive performances this season.

The winger has become an important member of Alonso’s squad and has adapted well to the manager’s 3-4-2-1 formation. His pace, dribbling ability and attacking contributions have helped Chelsea improve their threat in the final third.

Neto was particularly influential in Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium over the weekend, scoring both goals to secure all three points for his team.

His performance demonstrated his importance to the Blues, with Alonso now hoping the winger can maintain his form ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

The brace against Everton took Neto’s tally to four goals in all competitions this season, including three in the Premier League.

He has also registered one assist in seven league appearances, underlining his contribution to Chelsea’s attacking play.

According to WhoScored, Neto averages 1.4 successful dribbles per match, placing him third among Chelsea players in that category. He also averages 1.6 key passes per game, ranking among the club’s top five players for that statistic.

These numbers highlight the Portuguese international’s ability to create opportunities as well as score goals.

Although people close to Neto reportedly wanted him to leave Chelsea during the summer, his performances suggest that remaining at Stamford Bridge could prove beneficial for both the player and the club.

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