Chelsea have reportedly completed a deal to sign Sporting CP’s Dario Essugo, following the acquisition of his fellow Portuguese player, Geovany Quenda, on the same day.
While Quenda had barely been linked with Chelsea and was largely seen as a prime target for Manchester United, Essugo has been on Chelsea’s radar for some time. A transfer nearly went through in the January window, but it now seems the 20-year-old midfielder will make the move to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Essugo’s transfer to Chelsea is a “done deal.” The Premier League club will reportedly pay a fixed fee of €25m (£21m) for the player, who is currently on loan at Las Palmas in La Liga. While Quenda won’t join Chelsea until 2026, Essugo is expected to arrive this summer ahead of the 2025/26 season.
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Standing at 5’10”, Essugo has been a key player for Las Palmas, who are battling relegation. His loan spell in the Portuguese top division with Chaves last season also contributed to his development. However, it hasn’t been without its challenges—Essugo has been sent off twice this year and accumulated nine bookings over the entire campaign.
Despite his disciplinary issues, Essugo’s aggressive playing style has earned him admirers. Real Madrid and Barcelona have both been linked with the midfielder, who boasts an impressive average of 4.8 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, the highest of any midfield regular in La Liga this season.
Like with Quenda, Chelsea seems to have beaten the competition to secure the highly rated Essugo’s signature.
