Brazilian winger Angelo Gabriel has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr from Chelsea in a £19.1m deal, despite never playing a competitive match for the Blues.

The 19-year-old was signed by Chelsea for £13m from Santos in July 2023, and spent last season on loan at Strasbourg, making 24 appearances.

Angelo made history in October 2020 when he became the youngest player in Brazil’s top division at just 15 years old, debuting for Santos against Fluminense at the iconic Maracanã Stadium.

Chelsea will retain a sell-on clause as he joins a star-studded Al-Nassr squad, featuring players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané.

Chelsea’s decision to sell Angelo reflects their broader strategy of signing young talents and turning them for a profit. His sale brings Chelsea close to breaking even for the summer transfer window, adding £6m in profit to the club’s total of £188.9m from player sales.

Including additional loan fees and sell-on clauses, the total sales figure is expected to exceed £200m, balancing out the £208.5m spent on 11 new signings.

Under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, Chelsea has become known for aggressively pursuing young players, aiming to develop them for the first team or quickly sell them for profit.

Angelo’s move is part of this larger plan, using both Chelsea and their affiliate Strasbourg as platforms for player growth and eventual transfers.

Meanwhile, another high-profile transfer in the Saudi league saw Portugal winger Daniel Podence join Al-Shabab from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £5m, adding further excitement to the Saudi Pro League’s growing roster of international stars.