Exciting news for Chelsea fans! The club has officially announced the acquisition of two highly-rated young midfielders from Portuguese giants Sporting CP: Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo. This double swoop reinforces Chelsea’s commitment to securing top young talent for the future.
Chelsea Bolster Midfield with Promising Young Talents
Sporting CP confirmed late Wednesday the agreement with Chelsea for both midfielders. The deals will see the young Portuguese players make their way to Stamford Bridge over the next 18 months, adding depth and potential to the Blues’ midfield ranks.
- Geovany Quenda: Future Star Arriving in 2026
- Dario Essugo: Immediate Reinforcement Expected Next Season
Teenage sensation Geovany Quenda, a dynamic winger, is set to join Chelsea for a reported fee of around £44 million. While Chelsea fans will have to wait a little longer to see him in action, as part of the agreement, the 17-year-old will remain at Sporting CP until the conclusion of the 2025/26 season. This allows Quenda to continue his development at his boyhood club before making the big move to London.
In contrast, defensive midfielder Dario Essugo, currently on loan at Spanish Segunda División side Las Palmas, will integrate with the Chelsea squad much sooner. The 20-year-old is expected to join Chelsea at the end of the current season. The clubs agreed on a transfer fee of approximately £18.4 million to bring Essugo to West London, offering a more immediate boost to the midfield options.
Geovany Quenda is set to join Chelsea at the end of the 2025/26 season, allowing him to further develop at Sporting CP.
Profiling Chelsea’s New Midfield Signings: Quenda and Essugo
Let’s delve deeper into what Chelsea fans can expect from their new midfield pair:
- Geovany Quenda: The Creative Winger
- Born in Bissau and representing Portugal at the youth international level, Quenda is an exciting attacking talent.
- He made his breakthrough into Sporting’s first team last season and has continued to impress.
- His stats for Sporting speak volumes: 2 goals and 8 assists in 44 appearances, showcasing his creative flair and contribution in the final third even at a young age.
- Having risen through the ranks of Sporting’s esteemed academy, Quenda is well-versed in top-level youth football.
- Dario Essugo: The Tenacious Defensive Midfielder
- Essugo, also a product of Sporting’s renowned academy, brings a different dimension to Chelsea’s midfield.
- While boasting 25 first-team appearances for Sporting, his experience also includes loan spells at Las Palmas and Chaves, gaining valuable experience in different leagues.
- Known for his combative style, Essugo has shown promise at Las Palmas, despite recent disciplinary issues (two red cards in his last four games). His overall performances in Spain have been considered impressive.
These signings are consistent with Chelsea’s recent strategy of investing in talented young players with high potential, a direction initiated since the arrival of the new ownership in 2022. While numerous young players have been brought into the club, opportunities to break into the first team at Stamford Bridge have been limited for many so far. However, the arrivals of Quenda and Essugo, alongside previously acquired South American youngsters Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian (both also 17 and expected to join at the end of the current season), signal a long-term vision focused on youth development under manager Enzo Maresca.
What do you think about Chelsea’s latest acquisitions? Will Quenda and Essugo be future stars at Stamford Bridge? Share your opinions in the comments below!