Chelsea have confirmed that Andrey Santos has returned to Vasco da Gama on a loan deal.
At the turn of the year, the Premier League giants fended off competition from domestic and European rivals to sign the highly-rated Brazilian youngster.
Given the level of competition at Stamford Bridge, it was initially assumed that the 18-year-old would go out on loan in order to further his development.
However, Chelsea and Santos were keen to immediately join forces, the player wishing to acclimatise to English football before 2023-24.
Instead, it became apparent that the West Londoners were going to struggle to secure a work permit for the 18-year-old, who did not fulfil the necessary criteria.
© Reuters
Despite Santos starring for Brazil at the Under-20 South American Championship, Chelsea failed with their bid for a work permit for a second time, leaving them to sort alternative arrangements for Santos.
Palmeiras had allegedly been in line to sign Santos on a temporary basis until Chelsea became insistent on the teenager representing Brazil at the Under-20 World Cup and returning in July.
While that has prevented Santos from joining a club competing in the Copa Libertadores, something which would have boosted his chances of a work permit at the next attempt, he has now been given the chance to rejoin his former club.
In 2022, Santos contributed eight goals in 33 matches as Vasco da Gama earned a return to the Brazilian top flight after two years away.
Andrey Santos is re-joining his previous club Vasco da Gama on loan. ✍️
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 2, 2023
Santos is already in Brazil, where he has undergone his medical with Vasco da Gama, and he may be provided with his second debut versus Flamengo at the weekend.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea will be covering Santos's wages in full until he returns to the club in July.
Santos is yet to feature in Brazil's top flight as a professional, a factor which contributed to not gaining a work permit in recent weeks.
The next league campaign does not get underway until the middle of April, with Vasco da Gama starting with a encounter away at Atletico Mineiro.
Darren Plant
