Chelsea forward Joao Pedro says Danny Welbeck will strengthen the club both on and off the pitch after completing a surprise move from Brighton.
The former England striker joined Chelsea at the start of this month after the London club reached an agreement with Brighton. Welbeck has signed a two-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
Neither club has confirmed the transfer fee, although Chelsea are understood to have paid about £7m for the 35-year-old. Welbeck scored 13 Premier League goals last season.
Welbeck began his career at Manchester United and also spent a period with Arsenal before moving to Brighton. His arrival brings Joao Pedro back together with a player who has played an important role in the Brazilian’s development since he moved to England.
Welbeck was at Watford when Joao Pedro arrived in England in 2020. The pair later became team-mates at Brighton, where Welbeck continued to offer support to the younger forward.
“Personally, Danny is a very important person in my life,” Joao Pedro said in an interview with Chelsea’s official website from the club’s pre-season training camp.
“When I came to England, I couldn’t speak English, but he was always trying to be beside me to support me and help me develop,” he added, in comments reported by the English newspaper Metro.
Joao Pedro said the move to Chelsea would mark the third time he and Welbeck had played together, and he expects his former team-mate to have a positive influence on the wider squad.
“This will be the third time we have played together, and I think that, as he did with me in the past, he will give support to everyone in the team,” he said.
“Danny is this guy; he is very helpful and wants the best for everyone around him and for the team.”
Joao Pedro also praised Welbeck’s qualities as a footballer and said he was looking forward to sharing the pitch with him again.
“Everyone knows he is a top-class player. I am looking forward to playing alongside him again, and I think he will be a valuable addition to the team,” he said.
Welbeck’s move to Chelsea came after a productive campaign with Brighton, during which he scored 13 times in the Premier League. The deal was completed despite his age, with the striker now 35, and gives Chelsea another experienced forward for the new season.
For Joao Pedro, however, Welbeck’s value extends beyond his goals. The Brazil international highlighted the personal support he received when he was adapting to life in England, particularly while he was still learning the language.
That relationship is now set to continue at Stamford Bridge, where Joao Pedro believes Welbeck can make a difference within the dressing room as well as during matches.
