Chelsea have reached agreements with Sporting CP to bring in young talents Geovany Quenda and Dário Essugo, but what can the Blues expect from these additions?
Chelsea’s relentless pursuit of new signings continues, undeterred even by the fact that it’s March.
While no players can officially move until the summer transfer window, Sporting CP confirmed on Wednesday that Geovany Quenda and Dário Essugo will be heading to Stamford Bridge for approximately £44 million and £18.4 million, respectively.
Quenda’s signing is particularly intriguing, as the 17-year-old winger—who will remain on loan at Sporting until the end of the 2025-26 season—had been heavily linked with Manchester United, where he could have reunited with former manager Ruben Amorim. However, in a now-familiar move under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s ownership, Chelsea acted swiftly to secure the deal.
Meanwhile, Essugo, currently on loan at La Liga side Las Palmas, is expected to join Chelsea next season, with reports indicating the 20-year-old midfielder will serve as a backup option for Moisés Caicedo.
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Geovany Quenda Is A Fearless Playmaker and Dribbling Sensation
Quenda made his first-team debut for Sporting under Ruben Amorim in August, at just 17 years and 95 days old, during the Portuguese Super Cup against Porto. He marked the occasion by scoring, becoming the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer, though Sporting ultimately fell to a 4-3 defeat after extra time.
A dynamic and skillful winger who thrives on taking on defenders, Quenda has quickly become a key figure in Sporting’s first team. Only Francisco Trincão has matched his 26 Primeira Liga appearances this season, highlighting his growing importance to the squad.
Despite this being his debut senior campaign, Quenda has already established himself as one of Sporting’s main creative outlets. His 48 chances created rank him behind only Trincão (57) and Benfica’s Orkun Kökçü (58) in the Primeira Liga. He has also delivered 122 crosses—more than all but four players in the league.
Impressively, no player under 20 across Europe’s top seven leagues has created more chances this season than Quenda (48), putting him ahead of notable young talents like Lamine Yamal (46), Tom Bischof (43), Désiré Doué (37), and Kenan Yildiz (36).
Predominantly left-footed, Quenda isn’t afraid to use his right when dribbling, showing a willingness to adapt in one-on-one situations to outmaneuver defenders.
Quenda: A Versatile Talent Thriving Amid Turmoil
Quenda’s impressive performances have come despite the instability at Estádio José Alvalade, where he is already playing under his third manager since making his debut just seven months ago.
After Ruben Amorim’s departure to the Premier League in November, João Pereira’s brief tenure lasted little more than a month before Rui Borges took charge just after Christmas. Borges immediately altered Quenda’s role, shifting him from a right-sided wing-back in a back three to a left-sided midfielder in a four-man setup.
While his only league goal this season came under Amorim against Famalicão in October, all four of his assists have come under Borges. In fact, since the turn of the year, Quenda has registered the most assists (four) of any player in the Primeira Liga and, along with Francisco Trincão, is one of only two Sporting players to have started all 11 league matches under Borges.
His influence extends beyond open play, as he has taken on set-piece responsibilities, delivering 61 corners this season—more than double that of any of his teammates.
On the European stage, Quenda has featured in all 10 of Sporting’s UEFA Champions League matches, becoming the fourth-youngest player (17y 295d) to reach that milestone, behind Lamine Yamal, Youri Tielemans, and Jude Bellingham. Notably, he provided a superb assist in Sporting’s 4-1 league-phase victory over Manchester City, threading a perfectly weighted pass to Viktor Gyökeres for the equalizer.
However, Quenda’s impact isn’t limited to attack. He has earned praise for his defensive work rate, with former Sporting academy coach Fabio Roque comparing his commitment and defensive duels to a young Bukayo Saka. He has won possession 81 times in the league this season—only four Sporting players have managed more, all of whom play in defensive roles. Additionally, only those same four players and Maximiliano Araújo have recorded more than his nine interceptions.
Fabio Roque, one of Quenda’s coaches in Sporting’s academy, told Sky Sports: “He is so committed in defensive moments and defensive duels. He plays so well there because the space that he covers on the field is huge.”
“Geo is so demanding with himself in the defensive moments. To close, to recover fast, to win the defensive duels for his teammates. It reminds me of Bukayo Saka in the beginning of his career when he played as a full-back.”
With comparisons already being drawn between Quenda and fellow 17-year-old Chelsea-bound talent Estêvão, it remains to be seen whether Quenda’s future lies on the left, right, or even both flanks when he eventually makes the move to London.
Dario Essugo Is A Defensive Dynamo Making His Mark in La Liga
Despite being just 20 years old, Dário Essugo has already built a reputation as a tenacious and intelligent midfielder. The Sporting CP prospect, currently on loan at Las Palmas, first announced himself as a 16-year-old, becoming the club’s youngest-ever player when he debuted in a 1-0 league win over Vitoria de Guimarães in March 2021.
Las Palmas’ season has been erratic, with managerial changes and fluctuating form, but Essugo has remained a standout performer. While primarily tasked with breaking up opposition play, his comfort on the ball, composed passing, and ability to dribble through midfield traffic make him a well-rounded presence.
His strength in duels is particularly noteworthy—he has won 97 of 180 contested in La Liga (53.9%) and has even dominated physical battles against top sides. He won 12 of 13 duels (92.3%) in matches against Celta Vigo and Atlético Madrid, and recorded a staggering 18 wins in a goalless draw with Real Sociedad—only two players in La Liga have managed more in a single game this season.
Essugo also excels in reading the game, averaging 1.9 interceptions per 90 minutes—ranking among the top five in La Liga for players with at least 600 minutes played. Across Europe’s top five leagues, only three U21 players—Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen (42), Reims’ Valentin Atangana Edoa (30), and Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera (30)—have made more interceptions than Essugo (28).
As he continues to grow, Essugo’s mix of defensive intelligence, physicality, and composure in possession makes him an exciting prospect for Sporting and any future suitors looking for a midfield enforcer with technical ability.
Essugo’s Is A Midfield Prospect with Untapped Potential
Dário Essugo’s technical ability is solid, though there’s room for refinement. His passing accuracy stands at 86.2% in La Liga this season, a respectable figure but slightly below elite levels. For comparison, Moisés Caicedo has completed 90.2% of his passes in the Premier League in 2024-25, though Chelsea’s higher average possession (58.2%) compared to Las Palmas (50.5%) plays a role in that.
One key distinction is Essugo’s passing intent—28.0% of his passes are forward compared to Caicedo’s 24.0%, showing a willingness to take risks and progress the ball. However, this sometimes results in misplaced passes that can put his team under pressure.
His defensive work is a strong suit, but his discipline needs improvement. Essugo has been sent off twice in his last four games, both for second yellow cards—one for dissent against Osasuna and another for reckless play versus Real Betis. Learning to control his aggression will be crucial as he matures.
Chelsea reportedly plan to integrate him into their first-team squad next season, potentially affecting fellow midfielders Andrey Santos and Lesley Ugochukwu. While Santos has more attacking instincts, Essugo and Ugochukwu share similar defensive attributes. Statistically, Essugo is in the 85th percentile for ground duels among Europe’s top five leagues, slightly below Ugochukwu (90th), while both rank similarly in aerial battles.
With Chelsea’s ongoing youth-focused recruitment, Essugo represents another high-upside signing. If he refines his decision-making and discipline, he could develop into a key figure in their midfield rebuild.
Read More: Thomas Tuchel’s England: A Bold Shift from Possession to High-Intensity Football
FAQs
Who are Quenda and Essugo?
Quenda and Essugo are two young midfield talents set to join Chelsea, with Quenda excelling as a dynamic wide midfielder and Essugo thriving as a defensive powerhouse.
How has Quenda performed this season?
Quenda has been a key creative force, leading the Primeira Liga in assists since January and making history in the UEFA Champions League with Sporting CP.
What makes Essugo a standout midfielder?
Essugo is a defensive specialist with exceptional ball-winning ability, ranking among Europe’s best young players in duels and interceptions while on loan at Las Palmas.
How do Quenda and Essugo compare to Chelsea’s current midfielders?
Quenda’s versatility and attacking output contrast with Essugo’s defensive solidity, making them potential challengers to Andrey Santos and Lesley Ugochukwu in Chelsea’s midfield setup.
When will Quenda and Essugo join Chelsea?
Essugo is expected to integrate into Chelsea’s first-team squad next season, while Quenda will continue his development at Sporting CP for another year.
