Player Profile: Joao Pedro

Lets take a look at one of our striker targets....

Good Morning All,

Today I am reviewing the incoming signing of Joao Pedro, his style, capabilties and at the end will give my verdict on the player.

For anyone that is going to use scoring penalties as a stick to beat him with then please hold that argument until you have read this. Scoring penalties is not a given at any point and as we see with Cole, it takes skill, composure and technique.

⚽ Career Path

Fluminense (Youth → Senior, 2011–2019 / 2019)

• Joined Fluminense’s youth academy in 2011.

• Originally a defensive midfielder, he shifted to attacking roles, eventually settling as a forward .

• Made his senior debut in 2019, scoring 5 goals in 29 appearances, including a notable hat-trick in Copa Sudamericana ().

Watford (January 2020 – May 2023)

• Signed in January 2020 after an agreement was finalized two years earlier .

• Accumulated 104 league appearances and 23 goals, becoming a key attacking player .

Brighton & Hove Albion (May 2023 – 2025)

• Transferred for a club-record fee of ~£30 million in May 2023 .

• Impressive performance with 19 Premier League goals and strong Europa League record, 6 goals in 6 matches .

• Earned first-premier league call-up by Brazil and nearly joined Brazil U23 .

• 16 G/A in 27 appearances in 2024/25 PL season, at an average of 1 G/A every 122 mins.

Brazil National Team (2023–present)

• January 2023 first called up to Brazil U23s; debuted in August vs Morocco .

• Senior debut in November 2023 vs Colombia.

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🧠Tactical Role & Positioning

• Primary Role: Second striker / Support striker

• Other Positions: Centre-forward, false 9, left winger, attacking midfielder

João Pedro thrives in fluid attacking systems, often operating between the lines or drifting wide to receive the ball. While not a traditional No. 9, he can lead the line when needed thanks to his strength and technical ability.

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🔍Key Attributes

1. Ball Control & Dribbling

• Smooth first touch, excellent close control in tight spaces.

• Confident taking on defenders 1v1, often uses quick shifts of direction, stepovers, and body feints.

• Effective at driving the ball from deeper areas into dangerous zones.

2. Link-Up Play & Creativity

• Strong in combination play. Quick one-twos, layoffs, and reverse passes.

• Drops into midfield to overload central areas and link with wingers and overlapping full-backs.

• Creative passer, especially in the final third, can pick out runs or play disguised through balls.

3. Movement & Intelligence

• Smart off-the-ball movement: drifts between centre-backs and full-backs to find space.

• Makes delayed runs into the box, which often catch defenders off guard.

• Varies his positioning well, can stretch defences wide or come deep to create space for others.

4. Finishing & Goal Threat

• Strong striker of the ball with either foot.

• Capable of scoring from distance, but excels at reacting quickly inside the box.

• Calm under pressure, his finishing is composed rather than explosive.

• Scored a high number of goals from penalties and rebounds, showing good anticipation.

5. Work Rate & Defensive Effort

• Very active in the press.

• Tracks back willingly and contributes to defensive phases with tackles and blocks.

• Uses his body well to shield the ball or disrupt opponents’ build-up.

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🔩Strengths

• Technical quality under pressure

• Versatility across the front line

• Mental resilience and physical robustness

• High tactical IQ for his age

🧱 Areas to Improve

• Needs to be more consistent with his final ball in transition

• Can still bulk up a bit more to dominate physically in the Premier League

• Occasionally drops too deep and becomes disconnected from the goal

🧭 Tactical Fit in Chelsea’s 4‑2‑3‑1 / 4-3-3 / 3-2-4-1

⚙️ Offensive Structure

• #10 / Positioned behind the striker (like Cole Palmer), João Pedro excels in drifting between lines, linking play, and creating overloads. Mirroring the creative freedom given to Palmer against Benfica.

• Interchange with the striker: As a secondary forward, he can rotate well with Delap dropping deeper occasionally, making intelligent runs, and confusing defenders.

🎯 Pressing & Transition

• High press orchestrator: Maresca’s system triggers aggressive, selective pressing upon loss of possession . João Pedro’s work rate and tenacity make him a natural fit for this, trapping and forcing opposition turnovers.

• Quick transitions: He thrives in fluid attack, linking midfield to striker after quick turnovers, crucial given Chelsea’s fast buildup between lines .

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🔧 Strengths in This System

• Link‑up & vision: With midfielders like Enzo Fernández and Caicedo supplying balls, João Pedro’s capacity to unlock defences through passes or by drawing defenders will shine.

• Late runs into the box: His knack for arriving late complements Maresca’s overload tactics, often striking when defences are stretched.

• Versatility to roam: He can drift out wide or drop into midfield pockets, fitting seamlessly into Chelsea’s shifting midfield structure.

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🧪 Areas to Monitor

• Physicality versus pacey full-backs: Facing strong wide pressing means he’ll encounter physical duels and tight spaces, his adaptability will be tested.

• Goal threat from midfield: Compared to a pure striker, Chelsea will rely on him adding both goals and assists from deeper, something he’s proven capable of but must maintain consistently.

• Combative pressing, he leads the front-line press.

• Mid-block and overloads: When dropping into midfield, he helps form a 3‑2‑4‑1 shape, mirroring Maresca’s fluid tactic.

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✅ Verdict

João Pedro is highly suited to Chelsea’s system:

• His creative intelligence, high work rate, and late-box arrival align perfectly with Maresca’s 4‑2‑3‑1 that morphs into a pressing, possession-dominant team.

• He can occupy the #10 space, between the lines, combine with midfield runners, and press aggressively.

In short, he would slot in naturally—bringing fresh dynamism and unpredictability to Chelsea’s attacking engine.

🔎 Summary

João Pedro is a hybrid forward, part creator, part scorer, with a complete skill set for modern attacking systems. His adaptability, intelligence, and work ethic make him a coach’s dream, especially in teams that value high pressing and positional rotations. He’s especially dangerous in systems that allow him to drift, combine, and arrive late in the box.

A couple of clips below that are worth watching;

📄 My Thoughts

He seems the perfect fit for this Chelsea side and fills me with optimism that Saturday’s set up, tactics and formation will be for the long haul. He suits that perfectly.

Thanks for reading!

Luke Rushbrook