Chelsea Interest in Endrick
Endrick joined Real Madrid amidst high expectations following his stellar reputation in Brazil, where he is regarded as one of the country’s most promising talents in recent years. The Spanish giants secured his signature for €47.5 million in December 2022, with Endrick officially moving to Madrid in July 2024 after turning 18. His emergence at Palmeiras led to comparisons with legends like Ronaldo and Pelé.
The young striker made history as the fourth youngest ever to represent the Brazilian national team, debuting against Colombia in 2023 and quickly making headlines with goals against England and Spain. However, due to his limited playing time at Real Madrid, Endrick was not included in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for Brazil’s upcoming international matches. Since his transfer, he has only accumulated 11 minutes of playtime this season under Xabi Alonso, and a pivotal decision regarding his future is approaching in January.
Endrick’s Challenges at Real Madrid
Since arriving at Madrid, Endrick has started just eight matches, primarily serving as a substitute. During his debut season, he made 37 appearances, totaling 847 minutes—a little less than ten full matches. He managed to score seven goals during that time, yet he remains sidelined this season. A hamstring injury kept him out of the Club World Cup and the first five games of the current campaign, and although he returned to fitness two months ago, he’s only made a brief 11-minute appearance from the bench against Valencia.
Ahead of the October match against Villarreal, Alonso suggested that Endrick might soon be in contention for a starting role, but this seems unlikely as he remained on the bench during a 3-1 victory. “He has a chance to be a starter soon,” Alonso remarked. “He’s recovering from a longer injury, but he’s been training well for several weeks. It’s about finding the right context for him. He has a goal-scoring instinct—a great finish—but there’s a lot of competition. His time will come.”
What’s Next for Endrick
The direction of Endrick’s career at Real Madrid will reach a crucial juncture in January. The 19-year-old is eager to reclaim his spot in the Brazilian squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, but that goal seems unattainable if he remains a bench warmer in Madrid. His prospective availability in the January window is likely to attract interest from top European clubs. Madrid legend Guti has advised him to seek a club that offers regular playing time, stating, “If he doesn’t get any opportunities before December, his best option might be to leave to continue his development. For a young player, the priority is playing time.”
Chelsea is among the latest clubs linked to Endrick, with reports suggesting the London club may make a move in January. However, Lyon currently appears to be the front-runner for his signature on loan, as they can provide him with more first-team opportunities in Ligue 1. Real Sociedad and Valencia, who previously sought to loan him, could reignite their interest despite having been turned down earlier.
Ivan Fuente, a LaLiga expert at Transfermarkt, anticipates that Endrick will likely move on loan in January, noting, “Endrick hasn’t played much for Madrid since joining, and that situation likely won’t change soon. Gonzalo Garcia is now ahead of him in the selection. He didn’t want to leave on loan during the summer, but his stance could shift in January. He had a chance to join Real Sociedad on loan, but injury hindered that opportunity. It seems increasingly probable that he will accept a loan move in January.”
