Sporting Lisbon have confirmed that they have reached a double agreement with Chelsea for the transfers of youngsters Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo.
Over the past week, the West London giants have unexpectedly moved to wrap up deals for the duo under the noses of their rivals, firstly striking an agreement to sign Manchester United-linked Quenda.
The teenage wing-back was inevitably linked with a move to Old Trafford to reunite with Ruben Amorim, but after the Red Devils failed to formalise their initial interest, Chelsea swooped in.
Having shaken hands with Sporting and Quenda's camp on a 2026 transfer, Chelsea also struck an agreement to sign defensive midfielder Essugo, who is currently plying his trade on loan at Las Palmas.
Now, Sporting have officially announced that both players will be making the switch to Stamford Bridge in the near future, and the Blues will fork out a total of £62.4m for Quenda and Essugo combined.
Quenda, Essugo agreements confirmed as Sporting release statement
© Imago
For the Quenda deal, Chelsea will pay Sporting a fixed sum of €50.7m (£42.6m), which could reach €52.1m (£43.7m) through certain performance-related add-ons next season.
As expected, Quenda - who turns 18 next month - will remain on loan at Sporting for the 2025-26 season before officially making the move to Chelsea ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
According to Sky Sports News, the 2007-born attacker has already passed his medical with Enzo Maresca's team and will pen a seven-year deal in West London, with an option for a further 12 months.
Despite interest from other clubs, including Man United, Quenda supposedly earmarked Chelsea as his preferred destination given that the Blues are prepared to give him time to 'mature' as a footballer.
The teenager has already come up with two goals and eight assists in 44 appearances for Sporting across all competitions, and it is believed that Chelsea intend to use him as an out-and-out attacker.
How much will Chelsea pay for Essugo?
© Imago
Meanwhile, ball-winning midfielder Essugo will make the move to the English capital for a fixed sum of £18.6m, and he will finish the season with Las Palmas before his transfer to London.
Rather than staying on loan with Sporting for another season as Quenda is doing, Essugo will be integrated into Maresca's squad this summer, and the Blues are apparently hopeful of having him available for the Club World Cup.
Essugo has also completed his medical tests with Chelsea, who expect the 20-year-old to earn plenty of first-team minutes in the 2025-26 season as he provides cover for the likes of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in midfield.
The 2005-born lynchpin is the youngest player to ever play for Sporting, having made his debut at just 16 years and six days old in March 2021, and he has now made 25 appearances for the Portuguese giants.
This season, Essugo has scored once in 17 La Liga matches for Las Palmas, although he has also been sent off twice, both of which were for two bookable offences.
Ben Knapton
