Chelsea finalise signing of Brazilian striker for £17m
- Deivid Washington follows Angelo in leaving Santos for Chelsea
- Blues have agreed a fee of up to £17m for teenage striker
- Washington is expected to leave on loan
By Tom Gott
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of 18-year-old Brazilian striker Deivid Washington from Santos.
Having already completed the signing of winger Angelo Gabriel from Santos earlier this summer, Chelsea have returned with a £17m deal - an initial £13m with a further £4m in add-ons - for Washington, who has inked a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge with the option for another 12 months.
Washington leaves Brazil having managed 16 appearances for Santos, finding the back of the net twice in the league.
Chelsea had initially planned to send Washington out on loan to fellow BlueCo side Strasbourg, where Angelo will also play his football this season, but may be forced into a rethink as they near the limit of overseas loans in a single season.
Clubs are permitted to send seven senior players on loan to a different country and Chelsea have already used five of those spots on Angelo, David Datro Fofana, Gabriel Slonina, Hakim Ziyech and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu is also expected to head out on loan to Strasbourg but decisions will have to be made as Chelsea had hoped to keep some spots open late in the transfer window for any last-minute loan exits.
Romelu Lukaku, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Malang Sarr all remain on the transfer list at Stamford Bridge and, should Washington and Ugochukwu be loaned overseas, Chelsea would have no space unless Premier League moves could be found.
As a home-grown player at Chelsea, Hudson-Odoi does not count towards the rules but the Blues are hopeful of finding a permanent buyer before the window closes.
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