Andrey Santos breaks silence on Chelsea future as big summer transfer offer revealed

Andrey Santos had the opportunity to leave Chelsea over the summer (Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)

Andrey Santos has revealed there was an offer from Saudi Arabia for the midfielder to leave Chelsea over the summer, but one he ultimately turned down.

Back in January 2023, it was confirmed that the Blues had agreed a deal with Vasco da Gama , understood to be worth around £18million in total, but Santos would then be loaned back to the Brazilian side to complete the 2022/23 season. The now 21-year-old then spent the following campaign on loan at Nottingham Forest but was recalled in January after making just two appearances in five months.

Chelsea decided to send Santos to Strasbourg, also owned by BlueCo, for the remainder of the campaign. During his few months in France, Santos impressed and Chelsea extended the loan for the entirety of the 2024/25 season, where the Brazil international really showcased his talent and ability in front of goal - with the midfielder netting 11 times and assisting six in all competitions for Strasbourg in the last campaign.

It has now been confirmed, from the horse's mouth, that there was an offer for Santos to go elsewhere over the summer.

"Yes, the proposal from Saudi Arabia arrived, but I immediately refused, because of my dream and main goal, which is the World Cup," Santos said in an interview with Trivela. "I know that being in Chelsea and in the Premier League, the chances are greater than in Saudi Arabia."

When speculation over Santos' future was rife towards the end of the transfer window, head coach Enzo Maresca reassured the midfielder that he is in his plans at Chelsea this season. Maresca said this last month: "First of all, I am very happy with Andrey and the idea is that Andrey stays here with us.

"He can play in Enzo Fernandez or Moises Caicedo's positions, for sure. He played one game in the Club World Cup against Palmeiras where he was very good as a No.6. So he can play in both positions very well."

Santos has dreams of being named in Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad next summer and he would not have done himself any harm in the early hours of Friday morning. The Chelsea midfielder was brought on midway through the second-half as Brazil cruised past Chile by three goals to nil in Rio de Janeiro - and he impressed during his cameo.

Unfortunately for Santos, he has become accustomed to appearing from the substitutes' bench in the early stages of the season. He has featured for the Blues in all three of their Premier League matches thus far, but they have all been second-half cameos, with under 50 minutes on the pitch altogether.

There have been bright signs from Santos but he has been restricted with what he has been able to showcase. The competition for places in the Chelsea side under Maresca is enormous at the moment, especially in the centre of midfield with Fernandez and Caicedo both having bright starts to the season.

They will, however, need resting at points this term; especially with Chelsea wanting to fight on all four fronts. Whenever the opportunity arises, Santos must be ready and prepared to take it because they might be few and far between.