Chelsea's long-standing struggle to find a reliable successor to their great strikers of the past appears to be over, with Joao Pedro establishing himself as arguably the most effective forward in the Premier League this season.
The Brazilian, who arrived from Brighton last summer in a £60million deal, has hit the ground running under new boss Xabi Alonso after a productive debut campaign at Stamford Bridge. Having scored 20 goals and provided eight assists across all competitions in his first season, Joao Pedro prepared for the current campaign with eight goals in seven pre-season matches, and that form has carried directly into the league.
Five goals and three assists in his opening Premier League appearances this term mean no player in the division has been more involved in goals than the 25-year-old. While Manchester City's Erling Haaland has matched him for strikes with six in as many games, it is Joao Pedro's broader contribution - his link-up play and creative output - that sets him apart. Haaland, by contrast, has yet to register an assist this season.
The Chelsea forward's efficiency in front of goal has been remarkable. He has converted five of his 13 shots on target, the best conversion rate among players with at least five attempts in the league. Some statistical models have even rated him as the Premier League's standout performer so far this campaign.
That quality was on full display in Chelsea's 5-1 demolition of Bournemouth, a match that will largely be remembered for Jordan Henderson's first Premier League brace since 2014, scored at the age of 36. Yet it was Joao Pedro's own clinical double that underpinned the result, even if it drew less attention than Henderson's milestone moment.
One of his two goals showcased the first-time finishing that is increasingly becoming his signature - a right-footed strike driven unerringly into the top corner from a cross, executed without the need to take a touch, a finish many strikers would struggle to control cleanly. It was a moment of composure comparable to Haaland's turn-and-finish in City's recent win at Anfield, underlining the level Joao Pedro is now operating at.
His importance to Chelsea's attack was further emphasized by the timing of his return. The club's goal-scoring form had dipped in his absence, but it roared back the moment he returned to the side. Against Bournemouth, Chelsea scored five times from an expected-goals tally of just 1.08, a statistic that speaks to the sharpness of a front line now being led by a striker averaging more than a goal per league game this season - the best rate of any player with more than three goals to his name.
Notably, Joao Pedro appeared visibly frustrated when he was substituted in the 72nd minute, despite his side's commanding lead, a sign of the hunger that has endeared him to Alonso. The Spanish coach reportedly had a quiet word with his striker as he departed the pitch, mindful of keeping his most clinical forward motivated and onside.
Having taken over the number 9 shirt from Liam Delap, whose time at the club failed to produce the desired impact, Joao Pedro has embraced the shirt's history, even commissioning a personalized necklace featuring the number alongside a miniature version of his trademark goal celebration.
With his contract at Chelsea running until 2034, the club appears to have found a long-term answer to a problem position that has troubled them for years.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.