**[Chelsea’s](https://sportwitness.co.uk/category/premier-league/chelsea/) long-planned move for Geovany Quenda is now close to becoming real, and Sporting are already feeling the emotional side of it.**
After spending the season balancing title races, injury recovery and constant attention around his future, the 19-year-old is now officially saying goodbye to the club where everything started.
And judging by his farewell interview with Sporting TV, relayed by Portuguese outlet [**A Bola**](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/espero-um-dia-voltar-a-vestir-a-camisola-do-sporting-diz-quenda-2026052620323502523?utm_campaign=abola-page-post&utm_content=article-fresh&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_term=cde-twitter-fresh-articles-1203), that has hit him harder than expected.
**“It’s not goodbye”**
----------------------
Quenda will arrive at Chelsea this summer after the Blues agreed a deal worth around £43.5m (€50m+) for the winger last year.
The plan always involved him staying one more season in Lisbon before moving to Stamford Bridge. Since then, there has been almost everything imaginable packed into that final campaign.
There was a long injury layoff after fracturing his foot, with rehabilitation work in London under Chelsea’s supervision. Then came his return and his final home match in Lisbon, filled with emotional messages.
Now comes the actual farewell. Speaking in a fresh interview, Quenda admitted he struggled badly with the idea of leaving Sporting.
_“I had nights where I couldn’t sleep because it was very difficult for me to say goodbye to a club that helped me and my family so much. It’s a very special club for me,”_ he said.
_“The club will always stay in my heart. I have no way to thank Sporting enough for how they treated my parents and my family.”_
At several moments, the winger reportedly had to pause to wipe away tears.
**Chelsea getting a player deeply attached to Sporting**
--------------------------------------------------------
Geovany Quenda joined Sporting as a child and spent years working towards reaching the first team.
He eventually achieved that dream under Ruben Amorim, later continuing to receive trust from Rui Borges despite difficult moments after his injury return.
The winger made 20 Liga Portugal appearances this season, scoring twice and providing five assists in just over 1,000 league minutes.
Quenda repeatedly returned to the emotional connection with Sporting rather than focusing on statistics or the Chelsea move itself.
_“I’m more mature now, with a bit more experience, although there is still a lot for me to live in football,”_ he explained.
_“But Sporting helped me so much. I will always carry Sporting in my heart. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon. I hope one day I can wear the Sporting shirt again.”_
### **One last memory before Stamford Bridge**
Quenda also spoke warmly about several people around the club. He thanked Rui Borges for continuing to trust him, especially during difficult periods after his injury.
_“He always spoke to me, even when I wasn’t in my best moment. He always helped me, gave me minutes and kept playing me.”_
There was also room for lighter memories. Quenda laughed while recalling coach Ricardo Esgaio’s approach in training.
_“Esgaio used to kick me a lot in training and then say it was so I could learn, because football wasn’t easy.”_
Now, Chelsea are preparing to receive one of Portugal’s biggest talents. But they are also inheriting a player who clearly never imagined leaving Sporting would affect him this much.