Chelsea confirmed the signing of 20-year-old Portuguese midfielder Dario Essugo from Sporting Lisbon on Monday in a deal worth £18 million ($25 million). The young midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Spanish club Las Palmas during their relegation from La Liga, will be eligible to play for Chelsea in the upcoming Club World Cup later this month.
Essugo is a product of Sporting’s renowned academy and holds the record as the youngest player to debut for their first team, making his first appearance at just 16 years old in March 2021.
Chelsea had initially agreed on transfers for both Essugo and Geovany Quenda back in March. However, Quenda will stay at Sporting until the end of the 2025/26 season before making the move to Chelsea for a £44 million fee.
The Blues are expected to strengthen their squad further soon, with a £30 million deal reportedly close for Ipswich striker Liam Delap.
