Since becoming part of the first-team set-up at the start of the season, following a more than productive loan spell at Strasbourg, where the 21-year-old captained the French side, Santos has settled into his new role in SW6.

After scoring his first Blues goal against Wolves in the Carabao Cup and producing a Player of the Match display against Burnley in an important Premier League away win, Santos is convinced this is just the start.

‘This season is my first season at Chelsea, and I’m so happy to be here,’ Andrey opened. ‘The Premier League is so different from Ligue 1, but I have my team-mates, the coach and the staff from Chelsea who are helping me a lot. I like experiencing this challenge.

‘The intensity in France is top, but in England it is a different kind. It’s 90 minutes, and if you lose one ball, it can lead to a goal. So, you have other be ready all the time.

‘The coach always says to us to be ready because we have a lot of matches in a lot of competitions like the Premier League, the Champions League, the Carabao Cup and soon the FA Cup. So, I think it’s important to be ready so that when the opportunities come, I can give my best.’

And the next challenge for Andrey is a trip to St. James’ Park. He is well aware of the quality that Newcastle possess, with the Brazilian complimentary of his compatriot and Magpie captain Bruno Guimaraes.

‘Bruno is a top player,’ he explained. ‘I like him because I think we have similar qualities. He scores goals, assists and defends well, and I try to do this too.

‘When I was playing for Vasco da Gama, he sent me a message saying he was happy for me because he is a Vasco supporter. So, I think our relationship is really good.’

A huge part of his journey at the Blues so far has been learning from his team-mates – the likes of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia – with the Brazilian explaining how impressed he was by their quality even when he first joined the club back in 2023.

‘I’ve learned a lot from Moi, Enzo and Romeo as well,’ he said.

‘Our squad is so good because we help each other all the time. With Enzo, Moi, and Reece, for example, I learn from all of them, and it’s important for me because I am young.

‘I remember my first training session here at Chelsea [in the summer of 2023], I arrived home and said to my wife that it’s different! The Premier League tournament we had in the United States, I had Thiago Silva behind me, Reece James and Marc Cucurella next to me, and I was just 18 years old and had come from Brazil!’

As well as taking notes from his team-mates, he also wants to carve his own path at the club, pointing to that aforementioned Player of the Match display against Burnley as crucial to his development so far.

‘I think the Burnley game was important for me,’ Santos explained.

‘Caicedo was out, and he is so important for us – and our relationship is amazing, I love this guy. We always help each other, but I did very well against Burnley, and I was very happy to have this game and earn the Player of the Match award, my first one in the Premier League. It’s in my trophy room at home!’

Santos has plenty of dreams he wants to achieve at Chelsea, and the midfielder is aiming high.

He added: ‘Of course, I want to win the Champions League and the Premier League. When I was young, they were the competitions that I used to watch and now I have had the chance to play in these competitions and we have to work hard every day to win these trophies.’