Chelsea have bolstered their midfield ranks by securing the double signing of Sporting Lisbon youngsters Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo for a combined fee of £62.4 million, the Portuguese club has confirmed.

The 17-year-old winger, regarded as one of Sporting’s most promising talents, will join Chelsea for a fee of up to £44 million but will remain on loan at Sporting until the end of the 2025-26 season. 

Quenda, who made his Champions League debut in September, has rapidly emerged as a key figure in Sporting’s first-team setup this season. Chelsea’s willingness to wait for him underscores the club’s long-term vision of nurturing young talent.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old defensive midfielder Dario Essugo will move to Stamford Bridge this summer following a loan spell at La Liga side Las Palmas. The £18.4 million deal sees Chelsea further strengthening their midfield options.

Essugo has caught the eye in Spain’s top flight, but his fiery playing style has also led to two red cards in his past four games. His physicality and defensive prowess could make him a useful addition to Enzo Maresca’s squad as Chelsea gear up for the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this summer.

The Portuguese duo add to Chelsea’s ongoing strategy of securing top young talents. Earlier this summer, the club confirmed the signings of 17-year-old Brazilian winger Estevao Willian and Ecuadorian wonderkid Kendry Paez.

As the club continues its aggressive recruitment of future stars, the pressure remains on Maresca to integrate these young talents while ensuring Chelsea remain competitive in the present.