Xabi Alonso will begin his role as Chelsea manager on July 1 with the newly-appointed Blues boss set to have a big say on this summer's transfer window
13:14, 18 May 2026
Xabi Alonso
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Incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso(Image: Europa Press)
Geovany Quenda, who will arrive at Chelsea this summer, has bid farewell to Sporting CP's Jose Alvalade Stadium with a very heavy heart.
The 19-year-old winger signed a pre-agreement with the Blues in March 2025, with the west London club paying £40million to Sporting for his services. Part of the agreement was for Quenda to continue with the Portuguese club this season and he has now played in his final home match for the Lisbon-based side - coming on as a substitute in the 3-0 victory over Gil Vicente on Saturday. Quenda was in tears as his Sporting journey, which he started when he was just 11 years old - reached its conclusion.
Quenda scored in the penultimate match of Sporting's season and provided an assist to cap off the league campaign. After returning from a long injury layoff, due to a fifth metatarsal problem, the Portugal Under-21 international has been progressing well in recent weeks as he prepares for the beginning of a new chapter.
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The soon-to-be Chelsea winger still has one more objective to complete before leaving Sporting: win the weekend's Taca de Portugal final against Torreense. Once the final is over, it will be time for Quenda to go on holiday to relax before beginning an intense first pre-season with Chelsea.
Sources close to Quenda have told football.london the winger wants to take advantage of the delayed returns of Estevao Willian and Pedro Neto - both players who operate in a similar position to the Portuguese - in the summer. Quenda is immensely excited to work alongside incoming Blues manager Xabi Alonso after he signed a four-year contract at the weekend. Quenda, sources say, has greatly admired Alonso's work as a manager, as well as during his playing days.
Chelsea are understood to have enormous hopes for Quenda and believe he can make an impression in the first team straight away. We will await to see how Alonso views him and whether or not the Spaniard believes Quenda can be valuable in his system.
The teenage winger is desperate to make a strong first impression on Alonso in pre-season while other key players are set to be at the World Cup in the United States.
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There is strong competition for places at Stamford Bridge, but Quenda is confident in his own abilities. Pre-season is crucial for that and Quenda knows this - making this summer perhaps the biggest in the teenager's career so far.