Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign Sporting Lisbon’s highly-rated young duo, Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo, in a combined deal potentially worth up to €74.4 million ($81.15 million), the Portuguese club confirmed on Wednesday.
The deal for 17-year-old winger Quenda could reach €52 million, including variable components. Quenda, a Guinea-Bissau international, had been linked with Manchester United, having been coached by current United manager Ruben Amorim at Sporting. He will join Chelsea in 2026, after turning 18 in April.
🚨 Sporting confirm agreements with Chelsea for Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo.
As revealed, Quenda fixed fee is €51m with a further €1.3m in add-ons. Quenda will join in 2026.
Essugo fee €22m, and he joins this summer.🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/rA9OgIpfGT
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) March 19, 2025
Midfielder Dario Essugo, 20, will join Chelsea this summer for a fixed fee of €22.2 million. Essugo is currently on loan at La Liga club Las Palmas. He made his professional debut for Sporting in 2021 at the age of 16, becoming the club’s youngest-ever player. He is a Portguese.
The double signing represents a significant investment in young talent by Chelsea, as they continue to build for the future. The acquisition of Quenda, in particular, highlights Chelsea’s willingness to compete for the most promising young players in Europe.
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