“When you join Chelsea, you can only think one thing — win.”
— João Pedro, in his first interview after completing his £60 million transfer to Chelsea
Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Birth Name | João Pedro de Jesus |
| Full Name | João Pedro Junqueira de Jesus |
| Nickname | J. Pedro |
| Profession | Footballer |
Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Weight (approx.) | 70 kg |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
Football | |
| Professional Debut | March 28, 2019 for Fluminense (age 17 years, 6 months, 2 days) |
| International Debut | 16 November 2023 for Brazil against Colombia in a 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier (age 22 years, 2 months, 26 days) |
| International Career | ➤ Brazil: 2023-present (3 caps, 0 goals) ➤ Brazil U23: 2023- (1 caps, 0 goals) |
| Clubs | • Chelsea (2025 – Present) • Brighton & Hove Albion (2023 – 2025) • Watford (2020 – 2023) • Fluminense (2019) |
| Position | Striker |
| Jersey Number | — #20 (for the Premier League club Chelsea) — #9 (for Brighton during the 2023-25 seasons)  — #17 (for Watford during the 2020-23 seasons)  |
| Current Team | Chelsea FC |
| Joined | Jul 2, 2025 |
| Transfers and Loans | — January 2020: Fluminense to Watford (£2m) — Summer 2023: Watford to Brighton & Hove Albion (£30m) — June–July 2025: Brighton to Chelsea (£60m) |
| Coach/Mentor | Claudio Ranieri, Roy Hodgson, Roberto De Zerbi |
| Notable Records | ➤ Youngest Brazilian to debut and score for Fluminense in the Copa Sudamericana (during his time at Fluminense in 2019) ➤ First Watford teenager to score in three consecutive games (during the 2020–21 season) ➤ Brighton’s record signing (at the time) in May 2023 ➤ First Brighton player to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League (against Ajax in the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League group stage) ➤ Top scorer in the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League group stage ➤ One of the youngest Brazilian strikers to play in both the Premier League and Copa Sudamericana before age 22 |
| Awards, Honours, Achievements | • Brighton Player of the Month – January 2024 • Brighton Player of the Month – November 2023 • Premier League Young Player of the Month – December 2024 nominee |
Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 26 September 2001 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 23 years |
| Zodiac sign | Libra |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Hometown | Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil |
| College/University | No public record |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Ethnicity | Brazilian-African |
| Hobbies | Playing football, Music (guitar and keyboards) |
| Controversies | • He was left out of the squad after a training-ground altercation with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke ahead of Brighton’s match against Liverpool on May 20, 2025. Head coach Fabian Hurzeler described it as a “private matter,” but confirmed internal discipline procedures were enforced. [1] • He received a three-game suspension after being sent off for violent conduct—throwing an elbow at Brentford’s Nathan Collins on April 19, 2025, during a 4‑2 defeat. [2] • On December 27, 2024, he avoided a red card despite appearing to throw an elbow at Brentford’s Yehor Yarmoliuk. The Premier League defended the decision, stating VAR found the referee’s decision “not clear and obviously wrong,” but Brentford’s manager disagreed. [3] • On January 16, 2025, he was involved in a reckless challenge on Ipswich’s goalkeeper Christian Walton, which former officials labelled “horrendous.” The match continued without dismissal, but backlash followed. [4] • Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett warned referees will begin targeting João Pedro due to repeated incidents of possible simulation and diving, including a dubious penalty win against Fulham and a challenge on Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol. [5] • In a match against Everton, fans criticized him for gesturing to supporters—waving his arms to demand encouragement during a low-tempo game—highlighting growing impatience among Brighton fans. [6] |
| Social Media | |
Relationship & More | |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend | Mel Maia (Brazilian TV star) “They started dating when he was 17 and she was 15… she’s a well known actress”  |
Family | |
| Parents | Father – José João de Jesus (commonly known as “Chicão”) – (a former professional footballer who played for Botafogo-SP. José served eight years in prison after being convicted as an accessory to murder in 2002) Mother – Flavia Junqueira (Gymnastic supporter, moved with him to Rio, instrumental in his early development)   |
Favorites | |
| Footballer(s) | Cristiano Ronaldo, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, James Milner |
| Food | Grilled chicken with rice |
| Club | Fluminense |
| Colour | Blue |
| Foot | Right |
Financial Status | |
| Salary (weekly) | £120,000 |
| Salary (approx.) | £6.24m per annum at Chelsea |
| Net Worth | £9.6m (as of 2025) |
| Market Value | €50 million according to transfermarkt |
What You Never Knew About João Pedro
▪ Most people don’t know João Pedro started his career as a defensive midfielder at Fluminense before converting to a striker. That transition helped him become more than just a goal poacher.
▪ He’s always been a lifelong admirer of Chelsea, especially inspired by former Brazilian players like Ramires, Willian, and David Luiz. João once said that playing for Chelsea was something he used to dream about while watching those players as a kid.
▪ João has his mother’s (Flavia) and grandmother’s (Dalva) names tattooed on his arms. Before every game, he kisses those tattoos — not just as a habit, but as a tribute to the two women who sacrificed everything to support his journey.
▪ Even while on holiday in Brazil, João never slacks off. He sticks to a strict training routine — doing hill sprints, strength drills, and diet plans — just to stay in form. This work ethic played a huge part in impressing Chelsea before his transfer.
▪ His heading ability, one of his deadliest strengths, didn’t come naturally. It was built through extra sessions with a youth coach at Fluminense, who pushed him to master aerial timing and body control through constant repetition.
About the Author
Samuel Ibiok is a passionate football journalist and digital publisher with a sharp eye for storytelling. From detailed player biographies to breaking transfer news and hilarious football memes, I bring each post to life with energy and authenticity. My work blends accuracy with creativity, all driven by a deep love for the beautiful game. Read full bio »
