Wolves 'reach agreement' to complete shock Chelsea hijack

Gary O’Neil’s side have hijacked the Blues’ attempt to sign wonderkid Pedro Lima from Sport Recife, agreeing a five-year contract to bring the 17-year-old to Molineux.

Recife, a second-tier Brazilian team, have already announced the deal, confirming Wolves have completed the signing right under the noses of Chelsea. Enzo Maresca’s side had agreed a €7 million (£5.9 million) fee plus add-ons, so it’s likely a similar amount or one that slightly exceeds it.

Recife’s official statement on Pedro Lima deal reads: “The agreement with Wolves is subject to customary conditions. Medical examinations will be conducted by the English club and need to be approved.”

Lima impressed as he played 30 times for Recife in the Brazilian Serie B last season, while he’s featured on eight occasions since the start of this term which began in mid-April. Set to turn 18 in July, Lima has already cemented his place in the Brazil youth setup.

The right-back featured in all five of Brazil’s appearances at the Under-17 World Cup in 2023, missing just minutes throughout the entire tournament. Lima is set to become Wolves’ third official signing of the summer, after Tommy Doyle and Rodrigo Gomes.