Chelsea report: Real Madrid close in on Brazilian starlet as PSG drop out of race

Endrick celebrates after scoring a goal for Palmeiras.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Real Madrid are closing in on a €70 million deal for Palmeiras wonderkid Endrick after PSG dropped out of the race, according to reports.

The 16-year-old striker has caught the attention of top clubs across Europe and Chelsea were among the sides being linked with a move.

However, Fabrizio Romano reports that Real Madrid are the frontrunners for his signature.

PSG withdrew their interest after having a €58m bid rejected by Palmeiras.

The French giants tabled a combined bid worth €93m for Endrick and his team-mate Estevao, but walked away after the Brazilian club’s president turned them down.

That has left Real Madrid as the leading contenders to seal a deal worth more than €70m.

Personal terms have been agreed and the deal will be concluded soon, according to Romano.

As Endrick is still just 16 years old, his move to Spain will still have to wait until he turns 18 in the summer of 2024.

The youngster is considered one of the top talents in world football and is the youngest player ever to feature for Palmeiras, making his debut aged 16 years, two months and 16 days.

He also became the second-youngest scorer in the history of Brazil’s top flight when he netted a brace in a game against Athletico Paranaense in October.

Endrick featured regularly for the Sao Paulo club at the end of the 2022 season, helping them clinch the title by scoring three goals in seven games.  

Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.