Xabi Alonso’s appointment at Stamford Bridge could completely reshape how Chelsea utilises Geovany Quenda, especially if the manager decides to replicate his Bayer Leverkusen system.
Geovany Quenda has officially bid an emotional farewell to Sporting CP as he prepares to finalise his highly anticipated move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea successfully secured a pre-contract agreement for Quenda back in March 2025, triggering a £40 million deal that allowed the winger to remain in Lisbon to continue his development.
However, he’s endured a difficult mid-season spell on the sidelines due to a fifth metatarsal injury, but he has enjoyed a run of games to close out the domestic campaign.
And now it’s over to Xabi Alonso to do as he pleases.
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Xabi Alonso may turn Geovany Quenda into a wing-back
The Athletic have taken a look at the Chelsea squad ahead of Xabi Alonso‘s arrival and believe that Quenda could be one of the players who undergoes a big transformation under the Spaniard.
They state that Geovany Quenda is earmarked for a role as a winger rather than wing-back at Chelsea, but it feels possible that Xabi Alonso’s arrival could change that if he opts to use wing-backs as he did at Bayer Leverkusen.
He’s played as a winger in 21 out of his 26 appearances this season, with just two games at left-back, so there is potential, but he may be a risk defensively.
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What Chelsea fans can expect from Geovany Quenda
Chelsea fans can expect an exciting talent when Geovany Quenda links up with the first team for pre-season. The youngster is an incredibly dynamic, left-footed attacker who naturally loves to operate from the right flank, much like Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian.
He is blessed with electric pace, a remarkably low centre of gravity, and close control, making him an absolute nightmare for defenders in isolated one-on-one situations.
Crucially, his tactical education at Sporting CP means Quenda is already intimately comfortable playing with three at the back, a trait that gives Xabi Alonso the perfect tool to experiment with.
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