Against Wolverhampton Wanderers, it was the burst of pace and pinpoint cross that set up Joao Pedro’s goal. Against Ajax, it was the attempted overhead kick that would have resigned Chelsea’s other five goals that night — including his own — to afterthoughts in anyone’s recollections of the match. And of course, against Liverpool, it was the dart into the box and first-time finish that sealed all three points.
Estevao is producing the standout moments at Stamford Bridge lately. The 18-year-old Brazil forward joined from Sao Paulo’s Palmeiras this summer after a verbal agreement to sign him was reached in May 2024, so there has been plenty of time for anticipation to build around his arrival.
That has been rewarded so far. Estevao registered his first goal contribution in his first start for the club, assisting in a 5-1 win over West Ham United, and has scored in four of his past eight club appearances in all competitions. Even in games where he has not got on the scoresheet, the teenager’s footwork and pace have still shone.
It is no surprise that when Chelsea supporters see him on the touchline preparing to enter the fray, there is a noticeable ripple of excitement around the ground.
“The reason why fans pay tickets is because they want to see players like Estevao, like Cole (Palmer),” Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said after the 3-0 defeat of Wolves in his team’s final outing before this international break. “People are happy when they are on the pitch.”
It is also no surprise that some of those supporters are hungry to see their new star used from the beginning of matches. Estevao has started seven of his 16 Chelsea appearances in all competitions, though only four times in the Premier League.
Estevao has come on as a substitute in nine of his Chelsea appearances (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
As The Athletic reported last month, Chelsea have a firm plan to rotate their team frequently, to help cope with the dual burden of domestic and European competition. This also follows a busy summer spent winning the Club World Cup. Estevao is no exception to this, but the speed at which he has become a fan favourite means calls for him to start more regularly in the league will surely grow. The question is how Chelsea can best handle his and fans’ expectations.
“I made my debut at 18, but obviously I was scoring a lot of goals for the youth teams, the reserve teams, so probably already had people who knew who I was,” says former West Ham forward Freddie Sears, who knows what it is like to be thrust into the limelight at a Premier League club. In March 2008, the academy kid went overnight from a prospect to match-winning goalscorer when, after being brought off the bench for his debut with 15 minutes remaining, he scored to secure the three points in a league game against Blackburn Rovers.
“Even now, it’s still such a surreal moment,” Sears, now 35 years old and playing for non-League Maldon & Tiptree FC, tells The Athletic. “A dream come true. Everything sort of changed after that night. Scoring in the Premier League brought a lot of expectation.”
Sears recalls how his coaches did their best to “protect” him and keep him out of the media. At this same stage of West Ham’s 2007-08 campaign, which they finished in 10th, there was little at stake, but Sears was a bright spark. He featured in seven of their final nine league fixtures that season.
At the beginning of the next one, though, with other players returning from injury, Sears remained largely a substitute: “You’re sort of told to wait for your time, be patient and stuff like that. But it’s difficult when you’ve had the taste of it and you want more.
“I’m guessing if you ask Estevao, I’m sure he’d want to be playing every minute every week, and that’s when the difficult part comes as a coach. As long as you’ve got clear communication with the manager and you can see a plan, that’s obviously the ideal thing.”
Chelsea certainly have a plan for Estevao. Maresca spoke on Saturday of his long-term potential: “For this club, in the next five, 10 years, he will be a top, top player.
“We are trying to help him adapt and to give him the right minutes, and he is doing fantastic. Estevao arrived from Brazil. He needs a little bit to adapt, and slowly, slowly for sure, he is going to start games for us in the future.”
Given the skill Estevao is already demonstrating, it is easy to understand why some sections of the fanbase want that process to accelerate — but Chelsea are sensible to be cautious. The teenager, who stands at 5ft 10in (178cm), has adapted well to the pace of the Premier League, but he is slightly built and is getting used to his new employers’ intense schedule.
“(If) you’re coming into a league where there’s going to be less space, less time on the ball, less touches per involvement, you’re naturally going to have to have a grace period, and the use of substitutions is very beneficial for that,” says specialist substitution coach Sammy Lander, who consults with teams on how to get the best out of their bench players, or ‘finishers’.
Lander gives an example of how reframing the substitute role can help those players stay motivated with fewer minutes.
“(I would say:) ‘Look at the impact you had in the last four games’,” he says. “This is when the game would slow down. ‘The defenders are tired. These spaces had opened up for you. We actually think it’s going to be a far more enjoyable game for you to go and play if you come on in the 63rd minute, because we’re envisioning that the game’s going to look in that sort of state again.
“‘You had really good success the last time that you played because that space opened up, and it only opened up because the poor defenders on the opposition team had tracked that run for an hour already. That then allowed you to go and really sort of express yourself’.”
Maresca has been tasked with rotating his team (Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
Landers’ hypothetical motivational speech is similar to the scenario Chelsea supporters are already watching unfold.
Against Wolves last Saturday, by the time Estevao came on, Pedro Neto had already run the visiting defenders into the ground for 64 minutes. Their fatigue will doubtless have helped Estevao (who needs little invitation anyway) to enjoy slightly more time and space as he continues to adapt to the league.
Maresca has shown willingness to allow Estevao full games in the Champions League, against Ajax and Qarabag. But as the youngster settles in, his head coach appears happy to keep him as an ace card to be played from the bench.
Fans are impatient to see more of their new favourite entertainer. But if he can stay motivated and protected in an impact role, free to come on and impress against fatigued defenders rather than tiring himself from the start, is that such a sacrifice?
“When Estevao was on, the energy raised,” Maresca said after the Wolves game. “It’s because people love that kind of player. So we are happy that he can help the team. And also the fans, they can be happy.”