Chelsea have officially completed the signing of Portuguese starlet Dário Essugo from Sporting CP, confirming the transfer on their club website late Monday evening.
The highly-rated defensive midfielder, just 20 years old, has signed a long-term deal with the Blues that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2033.
The move marks a significant step in Chelsea’s continued investment in young talent.
Dário Essugo, born in Lisbon and of Angolan heritage, has been widely regarded as one of Portugal’s brightest football prospects.
His journey from Sporting’s academy to the Premier League shows how hard work and consistent development can pay off.
Chelsea described the deal as a move “aligned with the club’s long-term recruitment strategy under head coach Enzo Maresca.”
The club is focused on securing promising young players with high potential who can either grow into key squad members or increase in value over time.
Dário Essugo first caught national attention in March 2021 when he became the youngest debutant in Sporting CP’s history, playing at just 16 years and six days.
He later broke another milestone by becoming the club’s youngest-ever starter, surpassing a record previously held by Portuguese football legend Luis Figo.
Over the past few seasons, Essugo has steadily gained senior experience.
He recorded 23 appearances for Sporting’s first team and developed further with loan spells.
He spent time at Portuguese side Chaves before heading to La Liga, where he featured in 27 matches for Las Palmas and found the back of the net once during the 2024/25 season.
Moreover, the young midfielder is no stranger to international football.
He is a regular member of the Portugal U21 squad, having last featured during the March international break.
His strength, maturity, and technical skills in midfield have earned him praise from coaches and scouts alike.
However, with Essugo joining an already youthful Chelsea squad, the Blues’ midfield is set to evolve further under Maresca’s leadership.
