Chelsea linked with Vitor Roque as Sky Sports report talks are “working on”
Chelsea are reportedly “working on” a deal to sign Palmeiras striker Vitor Roque, with the early indications framing it as interest rather than a done deal.
The key detail behind the scenes is representation. Roque is represented by Link Sports, the Brazilian agency founded by André Cury – a figure already well known to elite European recruitment teams and one who has an established relationship with Chelsea’s decision-makers through previous Brazil-focused business.
Why Link Sports matters for Chelsea – the Estevao connection
Chelsea’s recent Palmeiras pathway has been clear. The club struck an agreement for Brazilian wonderkid Estevao, and that move only strengthened Chelsea’s familiarity with the Palmeiras ecosystem and talent pipeline.
Cury sits right at the center of that pipeline. He represents both Estevao and Vitor Roque, which adds an obvious layer to the rumour: when a club already has working lines with a player’s camp, information flow is faster, expectations are clearer (role, minutes, development plan), and negotiations can move with less friction.
Vitor Roque background – the “Tigrinho” path from Brazil to Barcelona, back to Palmeiras
Roque (born 28 February 2005 in Timóteo, Brazil) rose quickly through the Brazilian game. After early youth development, he broke through at Cruzeiro, exploded at Athletico Paranaense, and earned a high-profile move to Barcelona.
He arrived in Spain in January 2024, then spent the following season on loan at Real Betis to gain minutes and rhythm. In February 2025, Barcelona agreed his transfer back to Brazil with Palmeiras for €25mm, where he has been able to reset his form and rebuild momentum.
Back in Brazil, Roque has re-established his output and confidence, which is exactly why Premier League clubs are circling again.
Roque scored 16 goals and had 3 assists in 33 Serie A games, winning MVP for the recent season.
What Chelsea would be buying – profile, fit, and the key risk
Roque is primarily a penalty-box striker: quick across short distances, aggressive attacking space, and built to play on the shoulder of the last defender. If Chelsea’s interest is real, the attraction is obvious – he fits the club’s pattern of targeting young, high-upside talent with significant development runway.
The main question is context, not talent. His Barcelona chapter showed how quickly pressure, role clarity and tactical fit can shape outcomes for a young striker. If Chelsea do push on, the sporting plan will matter as much as the fee: minutes, competition in the squad, and a clear development pathway.
Who is André Cury – and what is Link Sports?
Link Sports is widely presented as a major Brazilian agency with a track record in international transfers. André Cury, its founder, is known across European recruitment circles for long-standing ties to clubs and deep knowledge of the South American market.
If the Roque rumours accelerate, Link Sports will be a major storyline, not just a footnote – because the Chelsea–Cury working relationship already exists, and that can be decisive when a deal turns from “interest” into action.
Rumour status – what to watch next
For now, this remains a transfer rumour. The next meaningful signals will be whether reliable reporters move from “working on it” to concrete steps such as valuation talks, agent meetings, or formal bids, and whether Palmeiras’ stance becomes clearer given Roque’s importance and long-term value.
If it progresses, it would also showcase a broader Chelsea pattern: deepening the Palmeiras corridor, with André Cury and Link Sports acting as a recurring bridge.
