Santos’s career at Chelsea has been far from simple since he first agreed to join the club in January 2023. Shortly after his arrival, he returned to Vasco da Gama on a loan deal that ran until the end of the 2023-24 season. His development then saw him move to Nottingham Forest for the 2024-25 season, but that stint was cut short due to a lack of playing time at the City Ground. Chelsea eventually made the decision to recall him in January 2024.
Despite being absent from Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad this summer, Santos is still highly regarded. His stock rose significantly during a productive loan spell at Strasbourg under Liam Rosenior, as he proved he could handle the rigors of European football. While there were high expectations for him to break into the Chelsea squad last season, he struggled for consistency under three different managers.
