Why Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos rejected £60m offer before transfer deadline

Chelsea were in talks to sell Andrey Santos (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea were in talks with Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah over a £60m deal for Andrey Santos but the midfielder reportedly rejected a contract proposal worth £7m-a-year.

Saudi giants Al Qadsiah expressed interest in signing Santos towards the end of the summer transfer window.

According to Brazilian outlet UOL, an offer worth £60m led to serious talks with Chelsea, who signed Santos for £18m two years ago.

Chelsea appeared open to the deal but Santos rejected a stunning contract offer worth £7m-a-year.

The move would have seen Santos more than quintuple his current salary but he snubbed the offer as he was worried about how a move to Saudi Arabia would effect his chances of going to next summer’s World Cup.

Santos has so far earned two caps for Brazil and is keen to remain in Carlo Ancelotti’s thoughts ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

It is claimed Santos, 21, indicated he would only be interested in the move if Al Qadsiah doubled their already huge contract proposal.

Santos joined Chelsea in 2023 (Picture: Getty)

Santos has made three first-team appearances for Chelsea since his £18m move from Brazilian side Vasco da Gama in 2023.

A poor loan spell at Nottingham Forest during the 2023-24 season led to concerns over Santos’ pedigree but he impressed last term at Strasbourg.

The Brazilian was one of the best players in Ligue 1 for Chelsea’s sister club and Stamford Bridge owner Todd Boehly highlighted his potential at the end of the season.

Santos made four appearances for Chelsea at the Club World Cup and has come on as a substitute in all three of their Premier League games so far this season.

PSG, Arsenal and West Ham were all linked with moves for Santos earlier in the summer, with Chelsea said to be asking for around £50m to strike a deal.

Al Qadsiah offered even more than that figure but Santos’ reservations over a move to Saudi Arabia stopped the deal in its tracks.

After missing out on Santos, Al Qadsiah signed Germany midfielder Julian Weigl from Borussia Monchengladbach.

Chelsea were one of the busiest clubs in the world during the summer transfer window, spending almost £300m on new signings.

Joao Pedro, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Jorrel Hato were among the ten new faces to arrive through the doors at Stamford Bridge.

But Chelsea also raised around £300m on player sales, sanctioning summer moves for the likes of Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku.

Enzo Maresca’s side have enjoyed a bright start to the new season – taking seven points from three games – and face Brentford immediately after the international break.

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