Brighton swiftly replaced Joao Pedro with £50m signings after his shock Chelsea move.

Brighton are well-prepared to move forward without Joao Pedro.

Chelsea have officially agreed a £60 million deal to sign Brighton striker Joao Pedro. The 23-year-old is expected to sign a seven-year contract with the Blues and could feature in their Club World Cup campaign, having traveled from Brazil to the United States for his medical. He may debut in Friday’s quarter-final against Palmeiras in Philadelphia.

Pedro will become Chelsea’s sixth summer signing. He scored 10 goals in 30 games for Brighton last season, and 30 goals with 10 assists in 70 matches overall for the club. Newcastle had also submitted a £50 million bid, but it was rejected.

Brighton already planning for life after Pedro

To fill the void, Brighton have made two significant investments in young Greek forwards. First is 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas, signed from Olympiakos for a club-record £30 million, potentially rising to £31.7 million. Known as “Babistuta” for his deadly finishing, Kostoulas is a rising star with a five-year deal. He impressed in the Greek Super League and the UEFA Youth League, where he helped Olympiakos win the 2024 title. Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler has praised his potential and readiness for the Premier League.

Joining him is 19-year-old Stefanos Tzimas, signed in February from FC Nurnberg for £20.8 million. The striker, previously at PAOK, is a classic No. 9 and scored 10 goals in Bundesliga 2 last season. Tzimas became PAOK’s youngest-ever scorer at 17. Hürzeler called him a “natural goal scorer” and a vital addition.

Welbeck’s leadership remains crucial

Veteran striker Danny Welbeck, now 34, continues to be an essential part of Brighton’s squad. He scored 10 Premier League goals last season — his best return yet — and is playing at a high level. His leadership and experience will be invaluable as Brighton integrate Kostoulas and Tzimas.

Brighton’s strategy paying off

While Pedro’s departure is a blow, Brighton have acted wisely. They’ve doubled their investment from when they signed him for £30 million in 2023 and brought in two promising young attackers eager to prove themselves. Kostoulas looks particularly exciting and could be a major highlight at the Amex this season.

With support from Welbeck, the creativity of Georginio Rutter, and the possible resurgence of Evan Ferguson, Brighton appear well-prepared for life without Joao Pedro.