AFCON 2025
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has named Estevao Willian as a ‘special player’ in the Blues’ squad.
The 18-year-old agreed a deal to join Chelsea from Palmeiras last year and has already made an impact at the west London side.
The Brazilian scored a dramatic late winner over Liverpool to net his first Premier League goal in memorable fashion.
The Brazilian scored his first goal in the Champions League against Ajax on Wednesday, helping the Blues beat the Dutch side 5-1.
Maresca said the young forward already has the right attitude to manage his success, picking the Brazil international as not just a special player, but with the correct mindset to succeed.
18-year-old Estêvão this season:
🔵 Youngest player in Premier League history to assist a goal for Chelsea
🇧🇷 Youngest Brazilian to score the winning goal in a Premier League game
⭐ Youngest goalscorer in Chelsea’s Champions League history pic.twitter.com/Y2B5302mfK
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 22, 2025
“With young players, most of the time you can be a little bit worried because if they play one or two games well and they score, they think that they are already top players,” he told reporters following their game against Ajax.
“The good thing about Estevao is that we don’t need to be worried about that. He’s very humble, he’s very polite, and he wants to work hard. He also has a fantastic family; they are very close to him.
“For me, personally, he’s fantastic because he’s a special player, but you don’t have to be worried.”
