"He reminds me of Benzema in many ways." That's Xabi Alonso, not a fan account. And after six goal contributions in four Premier League games to open 2026-27, it's not even a stretch.
João Pedro has been named Premier League Player of the Month for August — two goals and four assists across three games before adding another goal and assist in a 2-2 draw with Hull City. The Brazilian is running hot, and Alonso is making no effort to downplay it.
"If you count how many top-level strikers we have in the Premier League, I'm sure João is among them. Haaland, without a doubt, too. I would rate him that way," the Chelsea manager said. He then went further — comparing his No.9 to Karim Benzema. Good in the box, outside it, drifting left, dangerous in the air. Complete. Intelligent.
Barcelona's missed move makes this sweeter
Last summer, Deco flew to London to meet João Pedro's representatives. Barcelona wanted him. The player, by all accounts, was open to it. But Chelsea had paid $83 million for him in July 2025, and that valuation set a floor Barcelona ultimately didn't want to reach. Interest cooled. Chelsea moved.
The Blues locked him into a new deal running through 2032 — with an option for a further two years — and substantially increased his wages. The contract was the same length as his original one. The salary was not.
In hindsight, that decision looks clinical. João Pedro is the spearhead of what's being called JPMorgan, Chelsea's attacking trio alongside Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers. "For me, it's very good to look behind and have two No.10s like Cole and Morgan," he told Sky Sports. "I'm very happy to play with them." The system suits him. The confidence is obvious.
Curse broken, World Cup snub answered
He's also wearing the No.9 shirt — the one Fernando Torres made famous and every striker since has made forgettable. Falcao, Morata, Higuaín, Abraham, Lukaku, Aubameyang, Delap. It's a graveyard of ambitions. João Pedro looks like the first man in years who might actually own it.
There's extra context to the form too. Carlo Ancelotti left him out of Brazil's World Cup squad despite 20 goals and six assists in 50 games during Chelsea's difficult 2025-26 season. That omission stung. Alonso acknowledged it plainly: "It was painful for him." But it didn't break him — it sharpened him. Ancelotti has already reversed course, recalling João Pedro for September's international break on the back of his August performances.
For Chelsea's title prospects and their appeal in top-four markets, a striker averaging 1.5 goal contributions per game is the kind of number that changes how you price their season. They struggled to even reach Europe last year. With João Pedro firing like this, a very different campaign is taking shape.
"This year he has a very clear objective: to have a great season, score a lot of goals and be nominated not just this month, but in more months," Alonso said. "I'm not surprised, but I'm very happy."
Barcelona trained their sights on him and blinked. Chelsea didn't. That gap is already starting to look significant.
