Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo join Chelsea from Sporting LisbonLondon, 20 Mar (ONA) —- Chelsea have completed the double signing of
Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo from Sporting Lisbon, agreeing a
combined fee of around £62.5 million ($81.3 million) for the pair.
The Portuguese club announced the deals,
confirming 17-year-old winger Quenda would join the Blues for just
under £44 million and Essugo for £18.5 million.
Versatile winger Quenda, who had previously been linked with his
former manager Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, will remain with
Sporting until the end of next season before making the move to
Stamford Bridge.
Defensive midfielder Essugo, 20, will complete the current campaign
on loan at LaLiga side Las Palmas before heading to London.
In signing the duo, Chelsea have continued a strategy of
future-proofing their squad with highly-rated young talent, having
also secured summer moves for 17-year-old Brazilian Estevao Willian
and 17-year-old Ecuadorian Kendry Paez.
Quenda has established himself in Sporting’s first team and made his
Champions League bow in September, while he scored his first league
goal against Famalicao in October.
Essugo has impressed in the anchor role – and could act as a back-up
for Moises Caicedo at Chelsea – but has received two red cards in his
last four games at Las Palmas.
He is expected to link up with Enzo Maresca’s squad in time to play
some part in June’s Club World Cup tournament in the United States.
—- Ends/Khalid