Chelsea have dream shirt number for incoming wonderkid after £9m transfer sale

Estevao Willian's favourite shirt number is available ahead of his much-anticipated arrival at Chelsea next summer. The Brazilian starlet, 17, has been an utter sensation since breaking into Palmeiras' first team a year ago, and his sparkling form and monstrous potential were aptly recognised after he was named Best Young Player and Best Forward at the Brazilian Serie A end of season awards this week.

Despite his tender age, many are tipping Estevao to make an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge next season when his £28million (potentially rising to £47m) move is confirmed. In Brazil, he's viewed as the heir to Neymar's throne, and has even drawn comparison to Lionel Messi - hence his nickname 'Messinho' (little Messi).

For Chelsea, it means they're going to be absolutely spoiled for options in attacking areas next year, particularly with fellow South American wonderkid Kendry Paez joining the club at the same time as Estevao. But while team selection might prove a problem moving forward, shirt selection almost certainly won't.

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Speaking to ESPN Brazil this week, Estevao revealed which shirt number he'd want to wear at Chelsea - and as fate would have it, it's currently unassigned. "I don’t have a preference, but I really like 41," he said. "If they have 41, it will be cool too."

Estevao currently wears No. 41 for Palmeiras, and it sounds like he plans to stick with it for the foreseeable. The No. 41 shirt has been vacant at Chelsea since its last wearer, Ola Aina, now of Nottingham Forest, left for Torino in a £9m deal in 2019.

It means that unless the Blues hand the number to a new signing in January, Estevao will be able to keep his personal tradition going when he joins in July. Players sticking with unusual shirt numbers has become something of a theme at Stamford Bridge. John Terry famously wore No. 26 throughout his Chelsea career, while the likes of Reece James (No. 24), Gianfranco Zola and Moises Caicedo (both No. 25) have shown similar levels of loyalty to their respective numbers.

Estevao has spent the majority of his senior career playing off the right wing, but admitted his favourite position was in the centre. He said: "I’ve always been a No. 10 and I went to the wing to have one-on-ones. Of course I respect [Palmeiras manager] Abel Ferreira's decision, I know that I’ve enjoyed being on the wing more, but who knows, in the future I’ll play where I feel more comfortable, which is inside."

Of course, that space in Chelsea's team is currently occupied by Cole Palmer, but if Estevao's latest comments - and the fact he copied the ex-Manchester City star's 'cold' goal celebration recently - are anything to go by, the pair will have no trouble getting on. "I really like Cole Palmer's celebration," he said.

"Ever since I signed with Chelsea I said I was going to do this celebration. Palmer speaks to me on Instagram, I'm happy to have this contact with him."

He also said that Blues skipper James had reached out, and that former Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, who now plays for Brazilian outfit Fluminense, had been singing the London club's praises to him as well. "There is James who said that if I needed anything I should speak to him," Estevao added. "Thiago Silva spoke to me in that last game. He said that the club is top and they are waiting for me with open arms."

Estevao has been a mainstay in Palmeiras' team all season, and notched an impressive 15 goals in 45 games in all competitions. He also made his debut for Brazil in September, becoming the sixth-youngest player in the nation's illustrious history.

Exactly what the future holds for Estevao remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the sky's the limit. And if Chelsea can get the very best out of their would-be No. 41, the same could be true for them.