Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has made an impressive start to the new Premier League season, and head coach Xabi Alonso believes the Brazilian belongs in the same conversation as some of the division’s most dangerous attackers.
The 24 year old has already made a strong impact, scoring twice and contributing two assists across his first three league appearances. His performances earned him the Premier League Player of the Month award, marking the first time he has received the individual honour.
Joao Pedro finished ahead of Chelsea team mate Cole Palmer in the voting. Palmer had previously won the award for the club in September 2024.
Alonso Puts Joao Pedro Among the Premier League’s Best
When Alonso was asked whether Joao Pedro could be compared with Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland, the Chelsea manager had no hesitation in making the comparison.
Alonso believes both players deserve to be considered among the Premier League’s leading forwards. Haaland has established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific finishers, while Joao Pedro is developing into a more versatile attacking threat.
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Joao Pedro’s rapid progress has been particularly notable since joining Chelsea. He signed a new contract with the club last month that keeps him at Stamford Bridge until 2034 and was given the number nine shirt ahead of the current campaign.
A Productive First Season at Chelsea
The Brazilian striker enjoyed an excellent debut campaign in London. He became Chelsea’s first striker since Diego Costa to reach 20 goals in a single season.
Across his first 57 appearances for the club, Joao Pedro has produced 25 goals and 11 assists, underlining his importance to Chelsea’s attacking plans.
Haaland’s numbers remain exceptional, too. During his most recent 57 appearances for Manchester City, the Norway international has scored 42 times and registered nine assists.
However, the comparison is not necessarily based purely on goals. Alonso sees qualities in Joao Pedro that make him a more complete and flexible attacking player.
Why Alonso Sees Benzema in Joao Pedro
Alonso knows exactly what an elite striker looks like after spending years playing alongside Karim Benzema at Real Madrid.
The former Spain international made 195 appearances alongside Benzema, giving him plenty of first hand experience of the French forward’s unique qualities.
According to Alonso, Joao Pedro shares several characteristics with the former Ballon d’Or winner.
The Chelsea manager highlighted the Brazilian’s ability to operate both inside and outside the penalty area. He is comfortable moving towards the left side, contributes in the air and possesses the intelligence to link up with teammates.
Those qualities make Joao Pedro different from a traditional number nine. During his career, he has also featured as a midfielder, number 10 and winger, giving him an unusually broad attacking skill set.
Benzema developed a similar reputation for being much more than a goalscorer. His movement, creativity, link up play and ability to bring teammates into attacks were central to his success at Real Madrid.
Joao Pedro Has Plenty of Room to Improve
Despite the comparisons with established stars, Alonso is careful not to put too much pressure on his young forward.
Joao Pedro is still developing, and the Chelsea manager believes there are areas of his game that can improve further. At the same time, Alonso has been impressed not only by his performances on the pitch but also by his mentality.
The striker’s attitude and maturity have apparently made a strong impression since the beginning of the campaign.
Brazil’s decision to leave Joao Pedro out of their World Cup squad was undoubtedly disappointing for the player. However, he has since returned to the national team setup for September fixtures against New Zealand and India.
Alonso does not believe the omission was necessary motivation for his striker. In his view, Joao Pedro already possessed enough determination to succeed.
Rather than dwelling on the disappointment, the Chelsea boss wants his forward to concentrate on continuing his development and producing consistently strong performances.
Chelsea Expect More From Their Number Nine
With a new long term contract, the number nine shirt and an impressive start to the season, Joao Pedro appears to have become an important part of Chelsea’s plans.
His combination of finishing, movement, creativity and versatility gives Alonso plenty of options in attack. If he continues producing goals and assists at his current rate, comparisons with players such as Haaland and Benzema are likely to become increasingly common.
For now, however, Joao Pedro appears focused on establishing his own identity rather than trying to replicate another player’s career.
His early performances suggest Chelsea may have found a forward capable of contributing in several different ways, and the next stage of his development could determine just how high his ceiling ultimately is.
