Officially: Barcelona receive a fresh blow in the deal to sign Álvarez's replacement
Barcelona have suffered a fresh blow, losing one of their options at centre-forward should they fail to land Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez.
Several reports had linked Joao Pedro with a move, naming him among the targets on the desk of sporting director Deco as Barcelona look to bolster their attack this season.
According to Chelsea's official website, the Blues announced on Saturday that the striker had signed a new deal running until 2034. It's a move that underlines how determined the English club are to keep hold of the Brazilian.
Joao Pedro arrived at Chelsea from Brighton and Hove Albion in July 2025, and he wasted no time making his mark. Goals in the semi-final and final of the Club World Cup helped fire the team to the world title.
His form carried into his first full season at Stamford Bridge. He scored 20 goals in all competitions and ended the 2025-2026 campaign with the Player of the Season award, voted for by the club's fans.
Joao Pedro said: "I am very happy to have signed a new contract with Chelsea. I have always dreamed of playing for a big club, and it means a lot to me to commit to this club over the long term. Chelsea have a long history of victories, and they have great ambitions for the future."
He added: "I have a very good relationship with everyone here at the club, and I have felt at home here in London from the moment I joined."
He continued: "Everyone is very excited about this season. We know we are capable of achieving a lot of things, we have a great team, and we have a manager who wants to win and has already achieved victories. I am fully committed, everyone is ready, and we hope we can achieve our goals."
The impact was instant after his switch from Brighton and Hove Albion. He scored twice against his former club Fluminense to send the team into the Club World Cup final, then found the net against Paris Saint-Germain in the showpiece to help crown Chelsea champions.
That goalscoring streak rolled on through his first full season in a Chelsea shirt. He netted the team's first goal of the 2025-2026 season away at West Ham United, and later grabbed the only goal in a win at Tottenham Hotspur.
Europe saw the same story. Joao Pedro struck twice in Chelsea's victory over Napoli in the Champions League.
He finished the season with 20 goals for Chelsea, landing the Player of the Season award by a landslide after a huge fan vote.
