Santos turns down Saudi bid to stay at Chelsea for Brazil World Cup

Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos rejected a late, lucrative offer from Saudi club Al Qadsiah during the summer transfer window, saying he wants to remain in Europe and pursue a spot in Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad, the player and multiple reports said. The 21 year old turned down the bid after returning to Stamford Bridge this summer from a successful loan at Strasbourg, where he emerged as a key player and occasional captain.

Accounts of the approach differ. Media reports put the proposed fee between about 43 million and 60 million, and said Al Qadsiah were prepared to pay a salary several times higher than Santos currently earns. Some reports said Chelsea rebuffed the club outright; others said the club was willing to discuss terms but the player declined. One set of reports added that Santos would only consider leaving for Saudi Arabia if offered a wage roughly double what Al Qadsiah reportedly proposed.

Santos confirmed in an interview that he "immediately declined" the Saudi offer. "The offer did arrive, but I immediately declined because of my dream and main goal, which is the World Cup," he said. "I know that being at Chelsea and in the Premier League gives me better...