Pedro Neto faces Chelsea problem: Alonso could force star out amid Arsenal, Man City interest

Updated: 7 Sept 2026 17:35 BST | 3 min read

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

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Pedro Neto potentially faces a vital career choice in January: stick it out as a right-wing back at Chelsea or join Arsenal or Manchester City to be deployed in his preferred role.

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Chelsea winger Pedro Neto is set to have his situation followed closely by numerous big clubs ahead of the January transfer window, with Arsenal and Manchester City both reportedly tracking the Portuguese winger.

FootballTransfers reported that Liverpool were interested in signing the Chelsea player before finally completing their move for PSG’s Bradley Barcola, and the links between Neto and a move away from Stamford Bridge are not going away even with the deadline having passed.

Arsenal and Man City are both monitoring the player ahead of the January transfer window, according to Caught Offside, which adds that Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal are also tracking him.

Current ETV

Pedro Neto

F (R), M (RL)

Chelsea

Pedro Neto

F (R), M (RL)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€41.9M - €51.2M

Neto’s Chelsea role could decide his future

Neto joined Chelsea in 2024 in a €60 million move from Wolves. He established himself as a regular starter last season, scoring five goals and creating six more in the Premier League.

His versatility in being able to play off either the right or the left wing proved a major asset last term, and it is something that Xabi Alonso has already exploited this term.

Indeed, he seems primed to receive a significant role in the squad, even with Alonso’s system not necessarily favouring him due to the manager’s implementation of wing-backs.

Once Moises Caicedo returns to full fitness, Reece James may occupy the role that Neto is currently installed in, forcing him back to the bench, where there is also competition from Malo Gusto and Estevao for the spot in the team.

Alonso has not spoken directly about the player’s future, apart from dodging the subject late in the transfer window, when he said: “Well, about conversations, not going too much into detail, but we want to have the best possible squad and let's see what happens.”

Chelsea remains Neto’s best career option

With the player under contract until 2031, Chelsea will not be forced into any unwanted movement but if rumours linking Arsenal and Manchester City with the winger are accurate, Neto himself could force a move.

These may be attractive options in a sporting sense given their recent control of the Premier League, but would either move actually be in the best interests of his career?

Probably not, according to data analytics firm SciSports, whose Career Advice tool gives players a Club Fit score for each possible move based on a wide variety of metrics, including development opportunities, game time, playing style and formation.

In his preferred role on the right, Chelsea score an 83, yet this drops to 70 when his suitability as a right wing-back is considered.

Pedro Neto's Options

Club	Position	Club Fit (SciSports)
Chelsea	RW	83
Chelsea	RWB	70
Arsenal	LW	69
Manchester City	LW	63
Manchester City	RW	61

At Arsenal, meanwhile, the 26-year-old would likely be asked to play primarily as a left winger given Bukayo Saka’s presence on the right. The Premier League champions score 69 in this regard.

Man City, finally, score 63 on the left wing and 61 on the right.

Neto’s best option in this complicated mix is, therefore, to stick it out at Chelsea. The advice is that even in a less-suitable role, the Stamford Bridge side remain the optimal option for him.