Joao Pedro backs Chelsea's Danny Welbeck move: 'He is a top player'

Joao Pedro has backed Chelsea's decision to sign Danny Welbeck, insisting the veteran forward will bring much more than experience to Xabi Alonso's squad. Welbeck, 35, completed a €5.9 million move from Brighton & Hove Albion last week after scoring 13 goals in the 2025-26 Premier League season. He made his Blues debut in Wednesday's 1-0 pre-season friendly loss to Juventus. His arrival adds proven know-how to a young Chelsea group that has also brought in Jordan Henderson this summer. It also puts the spotlight on Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap, with Welbeck expected to operate as backup to Joao Pedro following the Brazilian's impressive first season at Stamford Bridge. Joao Pedro knows Welbeck well from their time together at Watford and Brighton, and he made it clear the reunion was about more than squad depth. "Personally, Danny is a very important person for me in life," he told the club's official website. "When I came to England [at Watford], I didn't speak English, but he always tried to be around me to support me and help me develop. "This will now be the third time that we have played together and I think, as he did with me in the past, he will give support to everyone in the squad. Danny is this guy; he is very helpful and wants the best for everyone around him and for the team. "Everyone knows that he is a top player. I'm looking forward to playing alongside him again and I think he will be a very good person to have in the group." Moises Caicedo, another Brighton team-mate from Welbeck's time there, echoed those words. "When he arrived here, I gave him a hug because I was so happy when he signed," the Ecuador captain said. "As a player and as a person, Danny is top. He helped me a lot when I arrived at Brighton. He was so important for me and to have him here at Chelsea, it feels good. I am so happy to have him here and he is going to help us a lot for sure. With his mentality, he has everything and he is going to be so important for us." Welbeck is set to compete with Emmanuel Emegha to be Alonso's second-choice striker. His first competitive appearance could come against Fulham on 24 August, when Chelsea open their Premier League season. He is one of 11 signings made by the club this summer, along with Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, Geovany Quenda, Valentin Barco, Emegha, Denner, Dastan Satpaev, Harrison Bettoni and Henderson.