As another summer of transfer chaos at Stamford Bridge comes to an end, you’d be forgiven for forgetting one or two of the new faces through the door in west London.
Whilst some of the new names like Pedro Neto and João Félix have grabbed the majority of the headlines, and the departures of big names such as Romelu Lukaku and Conor Gallagher has allowed Enzo Maresca to attempt to trim his bloated squad, one of the more under the radar arrivals has been that of Renato Veiga.
A Portuguese Prodigy?
Signed from FC Basel for a reported fee of €14million, a modest cost compared to Chelsea’s usual outlays, little was known about the 21-year-old. Born in Lisbon, Veiga moved through the Sporting Lisbon and Real Massamá youth setup before going onto make his senior debut whilst on loan at Augsberg.
However, during his time at Augsberg, Veiga faced the first real challenges of his career. After making 13 appearances, scoring 0 goals, Veiga’s loan was cut short and he returned to Sporting Lisbon after some underwhelming performances. 6 months later, in the summer of 2023, Veiga made the move to Switzerland – signing for FC Basel for a reported fee of €4.6million.
In his singular season in Switzerland, Veiga made 26 appearances, scoring twice. This campaign was enough for Chelsea to begin circling, and he made the move to Stamford Bridge in July of this year, being immediately thrown into the first team squad for their pre-season tour of the USA.
Versatility and Power
Whilst little was known about Veiga before his move to the Blues, he’s quickly demonstrating why he was snapped up so quickly. Veiga possess real strength and power as a player, standing at 6 ft 3 inches tall – he could be the brawn that’s needed in a young defence.
Alongside this, Veiga offers Chelsea a high level of versatility which could be pivotal in a potentially lengthy season – should the Blues enjoy successful cup campaigns. Veiga can deputise at left back, centre back and as one of the three in midfield, all positions he’s accustom to.
The biggest surprise of Veiga’s arrival is that it’s lead to, or at least solidified, the likely departure of Ben Chilwell. The club’s vice-captain, a £45 million signing from Leicester City in 2020, is said to be closing in on a departure from Stamford Bridge following the summer’s arrivals. A fan favourite for nearly half a decade, Chilwell was a key member of the squad which won the Champions League in 2021.
However, the resurgence of Marc Cucurella alongside Veiga’s arrival could lead to Chelsea looking to cash in on the injury-prone left back. It’s likely that the 27-year-old won’t be short of potential suitors, should a suitable move arise.
Veiga is likely to be a squad player in his debut season in London, and whilst Cucrella is expected to make the left back spot his own for now, Veiga will be waiting for his opportunity this season and is expected to be given regular opportunities in cup competitions to continue to grow into life in London.
