Chelsea struck a deal to sign Sporting's rising star Quenda earlier this week
They have now added ball-winner Essugo to their ranks for £18.5million
LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Why the League Cup final is Newcastle’s to lose
By KIERAN GILL
Published: 16:58 EDT, 15 March 2025 | Updated: 16:58 EDT, 15 March 2025
Chelsea have agreed a deal with Sporting CP to sign another one of their starlets in Dario Essugo, following on from striking a £40million deal for 17-year-old wunderkind Geovany Quenda.
Essugo, 20, will cost £18.5m and sign a seven-year deal with the option of an eighth when he makes the move to London this summer.
No sell-ons or add-ons are believed to be included in the transfer.
Chelsea have been tracking the ball-winning midfielder for some time, with the Portugal Under 21 international currently on loan with Spanish side Las Palmas.
He will add to Chelsea’s squad depth ahead of another hectic season which will follow on from the Club World Cup and inevitably place strain on Moises Caicedo and Co.
Essugo hails from the same agency as Caicedo and Kendry Paez, the 17-year-old who is joining Chelsea this summer from Independiente del Valle.
Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Sporting CP starlet Dario Essugo for £18.5million
Essugo, a ball-winning midfielder, has been on loan at La Liga side Las Palmas this season
This comes days after Chelsea nabbed fellow Sporting prodigy Geovany Quenda for £40m
It is the second agreement between Chelsea and Sporting in a week after it was revealed how Quenda will be joining the English side, though he will remain in Portugal and move over in the summer of 2026.
The acquirements of Quenda and Essugo provide further proof that Chelsea retain full faith in their policy of signing the game’s greatest prospects.