Chelsea turn down £85m Arsenal interest in star forward | OneFootball

Chelsea are renewing Joao Pedro’s contract amid interest from Arsenal and FC Barcelona, according to a report from Brazil.

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Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte report that Chelsea are extending Joao Pedro’s contract from 2032 to 2033, with a considerable salary increase, amid interest in the player from Arsenal and FC Barcelona.

Globo Esporte claim Arsenal and Barcelona indicated they would be willing to pay €100m+ (£85.6m) for Pedro, but Chelsea immediately closed the door, declared the player not-for-sale, and called for contract talks.

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There’s little doubt that Arsenal had interest in Pedro in the past, having been quite heavily linked with a move while the striker was still playing for Brighton and Hove Albion last year.

Chelsea ended up signing the Brazil international, whilst Arsenal opted to bring in other targets. Reports at the time suggested Newcastle United were the only club genuinely rivalling Chelsea in formal negotiations last summer.

So Arsenal didn’t make a serious move in 2025, and there’s been no suggestion in the English media that the Gunners have been pushing to bring in Pedro in 2026.

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Arsenal’s target positions for new signings are pretty clear, with the club hoping to sign a new centre-back, a midfielder, and a left-winger.

Given the likely cost of the midfield and left-wing signings (Arsenal are pursuing Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes and Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior), it’s hard to see how the club ever would have thought another £85m+ deal for Pedro would have been possible.

Regardless of the truth of the Arsenal links, Pedro will be extending his stay with Chelsea.

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