• Premier League

Chelsea sign Brazilian wonderkid Piazon

ESPNsoccernet staff
March 16, 2011
Carlo Ancelotti may well have added the new Kaka to his squad © Getty Images
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Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Sao Paulo starlet Lucas Piazon when he turns 18, in a move that will see him join the Premier League champions in January 2012.

Piazon, dubbed by some in his homeland as the new Kaka, is currently playing for Brazil in the South American Under-17 Championship and the deal is reportedly worth £5.3 million.

The player was also courted by Juventus, who appeared to have won the race for the teenager two months ago after he spent a week training with the Italian giants. That sparked erroneous reports he would join them in January next year. Instead, he is set to move to Stamford Bridge in line with FIFA laws after Sao Paulo agreed to sell him.

Sao Paulo vice-president Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva confirmed the deal was in place, and was done so they could pay for the signing of Luis Fabiano.

"It is a big deal for the club," he confirmed. "The value of it is almost the same as that of Luis Fabiano. He nearly joined Juventus earlier this year, but now everything has been resolved."

Piazon has never played a senior game for Sao Paulo and will sign the deal when he returns from Ecuador next month.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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