Chelsea fans have been shocked this week to hear reports that they’ve been very busy behind the scenes wrapping up some transfer business for future windows.
It’s clear under this Chelsea ownership that they’ve prioritised recruiting top young players, and they’ve followed that trend by securing a deal for Sporting Lisbon teenager Geovany Quenda.
The transfer speculation this week is that Chelsea have agreed to sign Sporting’s Quenda after he completed his medical with them. Apparently, the 17-year-old winger will officially join the Blues in 2026 because he’ll continue his development next season in Lisbon.
In addition, Chelsea have agreed to sign Sporting’s Dario Essugo, who’s currently on a season-long loan with Las Palmas. The 20-year-old midfielder is expected to move to Stamford Bridge this summer.
Incidentally, Blues supporters are still waiting for official confirmation from the club on both deals.
Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images
Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images
Enzo Maresca was important in Chelsea deal for Geovany Quenda
According to GiveMeSport, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is involved in all the club’s conversations and plans for future signings.
Apparently, the Blues got the green light to press forward with the Quenda deal after scouting him for more than a year.
The report says that Maresca was ‘important’ in Chelsea proceeding with the transfer of the 17-year-old talent because he approved of the player and can see him fitting in well to his system as a winger who thrives in 1v1 situations. In fact, Quenda is keen on the fact that Maresca views him as a touchline wide man.
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Quenda, who’s left-footed, has proven in Sporting’s first team he’s effective off either wing. The fact that he’s playing regularly at his age is quite remarkable, too.
Appearances Goals Assists
43 2 8
Geovany Quenda for Sporting in the 2024/25 season
The wide positions have been a bit of an issue at Chelsea in this current campaign, largely because Maresca keeps rotating heavily. Paul Merson urged Maresca to stick with two wingers for a consistent run of games to try find the right formula.
We’re sure that Quenda will be an interested watcher for the next year to see if any Blues winger can lock down a starting position in West London.
Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images
Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images
Similarities to Estevao Willian transfer
The Quenda transfer saga definitely feels similar to Chelsea’s deal for Estevao Willian.
Back in the summer of 2024, Chelsea confirmed they agreed a transfer to sign Estevao from Palmeiras, with the deal taking place at the end of the season. In the meantime, Blues fans have enjoyed watching the 17-year-old winger develop and shine in the Palmeiras first team.
Estevao’s valuation has shot up because of his growth over in Brazil as expectation rises ahead of his imminent arrival in the summer.
Like with Estevao, we’re sure that Chelsea supporters will be following closely what happens with Quenda at Sporting from now until his arrival in the summer of 2026.