Chelsea have Newcastle solution to growing Estevao problem

Updated: 4 Sept 2026 16:14 BST | 5 min read

Willian Estevao, Chelsea, 2026/27 — © IMAGO

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

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In a squad the size of Chelsea’s, some players will inevitably be left. Willian Estevao is reportedly one of those.

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Estevao, reports in Brazil claim, is concerned that he will not get the game time under Xabi Alonso that he enjoyed in what was an impressive breakthrough campaign at Stamford Bridge last season.

Following a €45 million move from Palmeiras in the summer of 2025, the 19-year-old hit the ground running with the Premier League side. Over the course of the campaign, he delivered eight goals and four assists across all competitions, with the highlight a blistering Champions League display against Barcelona.

Current ETV

Estêvão Willian

F, M (R), AM (C)

Chelsea

Estêvão Willian

F, M (R), AM (C)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€70.8M - €86.6M

Estevao, however, lost momentum towards the end of the season due to hamstring issues that saw him miss nine of Chelsea’s last 12 Premier League matches as they missed out on Europe.

Fit again, he is concerned after playing only seven minutes across Alonso’s opening two Premier League games.

Estevao discontent brewing at Chelsea

Estevao’s concerns centre around more than his raw game time – he is also frustrated that he may not get an opportunity to shine in his preferred role, where he is arguably now third choice following the record signing of Morgan Rogers in the summer.

ESPN Brasil reports: “Estevao feels more comfortable playing more centrally in the attacking third, a role that can currently be filled by Cole Palmer, the team’s No.10, and Morgan Rogers, Chelsea’s most expensive signing of the transfer window.

“One option would be to compete with Pedro Neto, who is deployed as a right winger in Xabi Alonso’s system, but the Brazilian wouldn’t like that, partly because he understands that he would need to gain body mass, which would naturally reduce his mobility and could compromise his playing style.

“All of this is being weighed and could influence the attacker’s future. Estevao makes it clear to those close to him that he likes the club and wants to stay, but if he has few opportunities in the first half of the season, it’s possible he might consider a change of attitude during the European winter transfer window, which opens in January.”

This leaves Estevao in a particularly testing position. While game time might come, it will likely be on the right. But he wants to play centrally.

Is there a way Chelsea can solve this issue?

Why Newcastle are the ideal club for Estevao

Palmer and Rogers promise to be a roadblock to Estevao’s development in the No.10 role for the foreseeable future, with the wing spot likelier to open up in the long term.

Chelsea can buy themselves some time, though. While they have used this strategy with other players by sending them to Strasbourg, clearly this is an unsuitable solution for a talent desperate to play on the biggest stage.

A loan move within the Premier League in January, then, is an avenue that is well worth exploring.

And there is an excellent potential destination club in the form of Newcastle ripe to help Estevao realise his undoubted potential.

© IMAGO - Willian Estevao, Newcastle Career Advice

The Career Advice tool of data analytics firm SciSports suggests St James’ Park as an ideal landing pad for the teenager. Newcastle are given a Club Fit score of 82 based on a variety of factors including development, game time, playing style and formation.

The Geordies are far stronger than any other club for Estevao when searching specifically for attacking midfield roles. Leeds and Real Madrid are next best on 76.

Chelsea, meanwhile, only hit 69 for this position, with the youngster given just one star of playing time.

Newcastle move can solve a multitude of problems

If Estevao were given the chance to move to Newcastle for six or even 18 months, it would not clear the roadblock that exists with Palmer and Rogers, but it would give him the opportunity to prove himself as an equal (and perhaps superior) option to that pair.

Should be prove himself as a legitimate contender for that position at Stamford Bridge, great, but even in the worst case, it would also represent a chance for him to build his personal value, opening the door to a lucrative future transfer if that is the route the club decides to go down.

Estevao has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €78.7m, but this will only drop if he continues to be peripheral in Alonso’s thinking.

Newcastle could, therefore, solve a multitude of problems for the Blues while also giving Estevao his wish to play as a No.10 in the Premier League.