Chelsea seal 74.4m pound double deal for Sporting Lisbon duo

By SABC Sport
21st March 2025

Chelsea have finalized a double signing from Sporting Lisbon, securing young talents Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo in a deal worth up to 74.4 million pounds, the Portuguese club confirmed on Wednesday.

The Premier League side will pay up to 43.5m pounds, including add-ons, for 17-year-old winger Quenda, who had also drawn interest from Manchester United. However, the Guinea-Bissau-born attacker will remain with Sporting until 2026 before making the switch to Stamford Bridge.

Quenda, who is part of Portugal's Nations League squad, first moved to Portugal as a child and initially joined Benfica's academy. However, he later transferred to Sporting, where he made rapid progress through their youth ranks.

In 2023, he signed his first professional contract and soon caught the attention of then-Sporting manager Ruben Amorim, now the head coach of Manchester United. Amorim handed Quenda his senior debut in the Portuguese Super Cup earlier this season.

The teenage sensation has already broken records, becoming Sporting's youngest-ever goalscorer at just 17 years and 95 days after netting in a thrilling 4-3 loss to Porto. Last season, he contributed 20 goal involvements in 33 appearances for Sporting's Under-23s and has continued his impressive form this campaign, with 10 goal contributions in 44 games.

Initially used as a wide player, Quenda has recently transitioned into a more attacking role in a front three under Sporting's new boss Rui Borges.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old midfielder Essugo will arrive at Chelsea in the off-season after the Blues agreed to pay 18.6m pounds for his services.

Essugo, who made history as Sporting's youngest-ever debutant at 16 years old in 2021, has been gaining valuable experience on loan. After a short spell with Portuguese second-tier side Chaves, where he made 14 appearances, he is currently on loan at LaLiga's Las Palmas for the 2023-24 season.

The defensive midfielder has represented Portugal at every youth level but has yet to make his senior international debut. His loan at Las Palmas is expected to continue until the end of the season, with no plans to bring him to London ahead of schedule.