Chelsea’s sporting directors deserve huge credit for keeping Pedro Neto and giving him a long-term contract extension. The 26-year-old is now an integral part of Xabi Alonso’s team, despite it once looking as though his Chelsea career was over.

Neto joined the Blues from Wolves for £54 million three years ago, having established himself as a Premier League-proven winger with 12 assists in his final season at Molineux. The Portugal international enjoyed a solid first 12 months at Stamford Bridge, winning both the Conference League and the Club World Cup.

However, the former Wolves star quickly fell out of favour with Chelsea supporters last season, with many calling for him to be sold. The Blues drew plenty of interest in Neto throughout the summer transfer window but refused to let him leave, a decision that has proved a masterstroke.

Chelsea deserve credit for standing by Pedro Neto

Pedro Neto’s lack of end product had already frustrated Chelsea fans, but then he made a mistake that seemed to leave him with no way back. With Chelsea 2-1 down to Arsenal with 20 minutes remaining in March, Neto scythed down Gabriel Martinelli and picked up his second yellow card in three minutes. He received the full wrath of the Chelsea away end as he walked around the pitch, having let their team down.

A week later, The Chelsea Chronicle asked fans whether they would rather keep Neto or Alejandro Garnacho in the transfer window, and more than half voted for the Argentine winger. Meanwhile, when Neto was linked with a move to Manchester City this summer, Blues supporters made their stance abundantly clear. “Chelsea can do much better than him,” one fan responded. Another added: “If Man City actually sign Neto, Chelsea fans have to forgive Enzo Maresca for all his sins.”

Pedro Neto has been hailed as an 'unsung hero' for Chelsea. Who else in Xabi Alonso's team is UNDERRATED?!

Neto was linked with a reunion with Maresca at Man City, while Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham were also interested in signing him. And those within Neto’s circle were more than willing to facilitate a move away from West London after a difficult 2025/26 season.

However, Chelsea ignored both Neto’s wishes and the fans’ demands, placing a £100 million price tag on him that effectively guaranteed he would stay for another season. It has proved to be a masterstroke, with the winger becoming a key player under Xabi Alonso and enjoying his best spell at the club.

Alonso has deployed Neto as a hybrid winger and wing-back for much of this season, with the 26-year-old attacking on the right of a front four before dropping into a back five out of possession. That changed after the international break, when Chelsea began defending in a 4-4-2 formation, with Neto operating as a conventional right midfielder.

Interestingly, Neto has shown excellent work rate and tactical awareness out of possession while also making a greater impact in attack. After scoring five goals in 34 Premier League appearances last season, he has already netted three times in seven games this term, including a match-winning brace against Everton last weekend.

No Chelsea fans would have predicted the 26-year-old’s remarkable turnaround, which has even led to him signing a contract extension until 2032. But perhaps the sporting directors (Paul Winstanley, Joe Shields and Sam Jewell) knew just how valuable he would be in Alonso’s system, and that is why they turned down approaches from several clubs.

Either way, the decision-makers at Stamford Bridge deserve credit for making an unpopular decision. They have often been heavily criticised for their transfer strategy under BlueCo’s leadership, so it is only fair to give them credit where it is due. Neto has certainly backed them up with his performances this season.