Enzo Maresca confirms Chelsea's long-term Cole Palmer replacement

Cameron Smith

3 Oct 2025 11:38 BST
4 min read

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has revealed that summer signing Estevao Willian reminds him of Blues superstar Cole Palmer.

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Estevao, 18, moved to Stamford Bridge from boyhood club Palmeiras in July and he has already shown glimpses of his promise since his arrival in west London.

The Brazilian became the youngest player to ever register a Premier League assist for Chelsea during their 5-1 victory over West Ham United in August and he has started four of their six English top flight matches so far in 2025-26.

Maresca has been eager to ease Estevao into first-team action at Stamford Bridge, however the Brazil international has already firmly established himself as a key member of the Blues’ senior squad.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Liverpool on Saturday evening, Maresca was asked whether Estevao will be used in a No.10 role due to the absence of Cole Palmer through injury.

Enzo Fernandez was deployed in a more advanced position during the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, with Andrey Santos playing alongside Moises Caicedo in midfield, while Facundo Buonanotte was selected as the attacking midfielder against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday.

However, Estevao has been tipped to get the nod versus Arne Slot’s side.

© IMAGO - Estevao has impressed since joining Chelsea

Enzo Maresca on Estevao

“We consider all of our players to give them minutes in all positions,” Maresca admitted to reporters during his pre-match press conference.

“Estevao reminds me a lot of Cole when Cole was with me in the U23s at [Manchester] City. Cole's path has been similar to Estevao's path in terms of starting wide as a winger and then slowly you can move inside. In the Premier League, if you want to play in the middle, you need to be physically prepared.”

Palmer began his Chelsea career as a right winger under Mauricio Pochettino, but the England star was moved into a central role during the latter stages of the 2023-24 season and he has almost exclusively been selected in the No.10 position since the appointment of Maresca last summer.

The 23-year-old has attracted transfer interest from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in recent months, as per speculative reports, and although Chelsea are extremely unlikely to permit a sale, Estevao could be the man to replace Palmer if a departure does happen.

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