Chelsea have long admired Denner.
Image credit: Blue Season Daily
Chelsea have finalized an agreement to sign 17-year-old Corinthians left-back Denner, a highly-rated Brazilian prospect and cousin of Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães.
Denner caught Chelsea’s attention after rejecting a contract extension with Corinthians, signaling his desire to move to Europe.
While his release clause within Brazil was reportedly around £1.4m, Chelsea negotiated directly with Corinthians to finalize a deal worth an initial £8.25m, with £3.3m in add-ons.
🚨🔵✨ 17-year old Denner set to join Chelsea from Corinthians in 2026.#CFC will pay €10M in fixed terms + €4M in bonuses.
— Transfer Daily (@Transfer1_Daily) March 1, 2025
Denner will sign a seven-year contract with Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/8WP6rHIGRR
However, due to FIFA transfer regulations, Denner will only be eligible to move to Stamford Bridge as soon as he turns 18 in February 2026, meaning he will join the Blues in the summer of that year.
The young defender is set to sign a seven-year contract, while Corinthians have secured a 15% sell-on clause as part of the deal.
Chelsea’s Growing Focus on South American Talent
Denner is the latest in a series of South American talents Chelsea have targeted in recent years.
This summer, Palmeiras’ teenage sensation Estevão Willian is set to arrive, while midfielder Andrey Santos, signed from Vasco da Gama in 2023, is making a strong impression on loan at Strasbourg.
The Blues could further bolster their South American contingent, with reports linking them to 18-year-old River Plate winger Ian Subiabre, who has a £25m release clause.
As Chelsea continue to prioritize young talent from South America, Denner’s signing is another example of the club’s strategy to secure emerging stars before they explode onto the global stage.