Chelsea transfer signing rated better than Vinicius Jr and Endrick by Brazil legend

Former Premier League midfielder Branco insists Chelsea's new signing Estevao Willian is the "greatest" Brazilian player he has seen since Neymar Jr.

The 17-year-old Palmeiras forward sealed a switch to the Blues over the weekend, but will not make the move to Stamford Bridge until next summer.

Willian is the latest South American to move to West London as he followed in the footsteps of Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington and Angelo Gabriel. However, the Palmeiras is making quite the headlines in his homeland and was recently hailed as Brazil's biggest talent since Neymar Jr, who made a £48.7m move to Barcelona in 2013 aged just 21.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had these kids there and Brazil has a spectacular generation,” former Brazil and Middlesborough midfielder Branco told Canal WAMO. “Brazil for 2026 will arrive very strong, they’ll arrive with strength, speed and quality.

“Estevao, for me, with all due respect to the others, this is something serious, something that I’ve never said and I’m going to say – since Neymar, he is the greatest player I’ve seen born in Brazil.

“This is my opinion, you’ve seen him close, you know. This is Brazil, they’re all spectacular but this boy, his ceiling is a bit higher.”

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Willian will be joined at Stamford Bridge next summer by Ecuador international Kendry Paez.