Ten years after Victor Moses reinvented himself under Antonio Conte to help Chelsea win the Premier League title, another winger-turned-wing-back is flourishing at Stamford Bridge — and this time it is Pedro Neto doing the transforming.

Neto scored twice from the right wing-back position as Chelsea swept Everton aside 2-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, taking his tally to four goals and one assist in nine appearances this season. That figure already represents more than double the scoring rate he managed across his entire time at Wolverhampton Wanderers and his first spell at Chelsea before Xabi Alonso's arrival.

A summer of uncertainty

The journey to this point was far from straightforward. Chelsea did not consider Neto untouchable heading into last summer's transfer window, despite setting an asking price of around £100 million. Uncertainty over his future lingered until the window shut.

Neto had been among the players unsettled at the end of last season — a campaign that ended with Chelsea finishing 10th under Liam Rosenior, who lasted fewer than four months after replacing Enzo Maresca. Maresca's departure on New Year's Day had been a particular blow given the close relationship the pair shared.

The arrival of Alonso changed everything. Like Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Reece James, and Moises Caicedo — all of whom signed new contracts — Neto eventually bought into Chelsea's reshaped project. Last month, he committed his future to the club until 2032.

Statistics that tell the story

The numbers underline just how profoundly Alonso has altered Neto's game. Despite his wing-back duties, he is averaging 5.3 touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 minutes this season, compared with 3.6 last campaign. His dribble success rate has jumped from 43.5 percent to 52.6 percent, and the chances he creates per 90 minutes have risen from 1.8 to 2.0.

Defensively, the improvement is equally striking. His tackles per 90 have climbed from 0.7 to 2.0, while possessions won have increased from 2.9 to 3.9. Much of this owes to an athleticism Neto has previously credited to growing up in a family of roller-hockey players.

Alonso uses an asymmetric shape, placing less attacking responsibility on his left wing-back — typically Jorrel Hato or Pep Chavarria — which gives Neto greater freedom to drive forward on the right. The results have been dramatic. In Chelsea's 3-0 Club World Cup final victory over Paris St-Germain in 2025, Neto effectively man-marked Achraf Hakimi throughout.

Alonso's verdict