PROFILE | Andrey Santos’ rise provides Chelsea with dilemma | OneFootball

The Chelsea hierarchy will be looking at Andrey Santos and licking their lips if his current form with Strasbourg continues into the latter stages of the Ligue 1 season. So far, the deep-lying midfielder has been all-but ever-present in Liam Rosenior’s starting XI, where he has shone next to more defensive options such as Ismael Doukouré.

Born in 2004 in Rio de Janeiro, Santos joined Vasco de Gama’s academy at a young age and quickly made a name for himself with his impressive technical skills, vision, and maturity on the field. His ability to control the tempo of the game, combined with his defensive and offensive versatility, made him stand out in Vasco’s youth ranks. Santos’ performances with the club’s youth teams earned him a promotion to the senior squad, where he made his debut in 2021. His rise through the ranks at Vasco da Gama was marked by his ability to adapt to different roles in midfield, showcasing his potential to become one of Brazil’s most promising young talents.

A slow start in Europe

His success at Vasco eventually led to a move to Europe, with Chelsea recognising his potential and securing his services for €12.5m as a part of their long-term project. Until he turned 18, he was loaned back to Vasco where in total he accrued nine goals over 49 games. Upon arriving in England, Santos was loaned out to fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest, then managed by Steve Cooper.

Santos’ loan spell at Forest in 2023 proved to be less successful than expected. Despite high hopes for his development in the Premier League, the Brazilian midfielder struggled to secure a regular spot in the starting lineup. Limited playing time and fierce competition for midfield positions hindered his ability to showcase his talents fully. As a result, Santos found it difficult to adapt to the physicality and pace of the English top flight. His lack of opportunities led to his loan being cut short, and he returned to Chelsea after making just two appearances in losses against Liverpool and Burnley for Steve Cooper’s strugglers.

With no space for Andrey at Chelsea, he was loaned out to Strasbourg in January of 2024. This deal was not met with much excitement from the Strasbourg perspective, given his age and inexperience, and not least his visibly tough time in Nottingham. Strasbourg’s fanbase have been incredibly vocal in their displease of their new ownership, despite the investment given.

Santos a goal-scoring threat

It was not until he scored the winner in the Derby de l’Est against fierce rivals FC Metz that Santos started to win over the supporters in Alsace. With a positive end to the season in 2023-24, the Brazilian returned to Strasbourg for the entirety of the 2024-25 season. So far, a case could be made that he would return to be a key part of Chelsea’s squad for next season. Despite playing in a deeper role in midfield, the 20-year-old has scored five goals, including a brace against Nantes back in October. Santos even captained the side for the first time away in Nice, taking the armband from regular club captain Habib Diarra.

Santos is a dynamic deep-lying progressive midfielder with a rare combination of defensive solidity and attacking flair. Operating primarily from deeper positions, he excels at dictating the tempo of the game with his excellent passing range, frequently switching play and making intelligent vertical passes to progress the ball upfield. His composure under pressure and ability to read the game allow him to break up opposition attacks while seamlessly transitioning into offensive phases.

Santos is also a goal-scoring threat; despite his deep position, he regularly makes intelligent runs into the box, arriving late to finish chances with his well-timed shots. With 0.30 goals per 90, he finds himself in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues. Considering that he is in the top 3% of midfielders in terms of successful tackles per 90 with 3.62, his incredible versatility is plain to see. These attributes enable him to contribute both defensively and offensively, making him an all-around midfielder capable of influencing a game in multiple ways. His ability to balance defensive duties with his attacking output makes him a key asset for any team looking for a modern, complete midfielder.

Sell or keep?

So, what’s next for Santos? After captaining Brazil’s u23’s in the CONMEBOL pre-Olympic tournament earlier in 2024, a call-up to the senior side could be on the cards in the near future, despite his young age and tough competition ahead of him. If his form continues at Strasbourg, it could be difficult for Enzo Maresca to persuade him to settle for a bit-part role at Chelsea next season. Therefore, there will be an ultimatum for BlueCo: find a role for him at Chelsea, or cash in on him while his stock is high.

Santos’ potential is immense, and any club looking to secure his services in 2025 will likely have to pay a hefty fee. For Chelsea, he would represent a significant profit on their initial investment, as they look to recoup funds amidst increasing concerns over Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations in the Premier League. While Chelsea may have acquired Santos with an eye on developing him into a key player for their squad, his potential growth could also mean a lucrative sale in the future.

For Strasbourg, though, the situation is more bittersweet. Despite his obvious talent and impact during his loan spell, it seems unlikely Santos will remain at the French club beyond the season. The reality of being part of a larger ownership model—where Strasbourg serves as a secondary club to Chelsea—puts fans in a difficult position. They can enjoy Santos’ performances in the short term, but the understanding that the most talented players will eventually be funnelled into the “parent” club leaves a sense of frustration and powerlessness. For fans of Les Alsaciens, this dynamic reflects the limitations of their club’s current structure, where the long-term future of players like Santos is often out of their hands, regardless of their own ambitions or success in Ligue 1.

GFFN | James Evans