Chelsea Football Club have completed the signing of Portuguese midfielder Dario Essugo from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth £18 million ($25 million), the Premier League side confirmed on Monday.
The 20-year-old, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Spanish club Las Palmas, will be eligible to feature for Chelsea at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup later this month.
Essugo rose through the ranks at Sporting’s academy and made history in March 2021 when he became the youngest player to represent the club’s first team at just 16 years old.
The midfielder’s arrival follows an agreement earlier this year for both Essugo and fellow Sporting talent Geovany Quenda. While Essugo joins immediately, Quenda will remain with Sporting for the 2025/26 season before completing a £44 million move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s recruitment drive is expected to continue in the coming days, with the club reportedly close to finalising a £30 million deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap.
