Chelsea have confirmed the acquisition of Portuguese wonderkid Dário Essugo from Sporting CP, with the deal finalised and announced on the club’s website on Monday evening.
The 20-year-old defensive midfielder has signed a long-term contract that ties him to the Blues until 2033.
Born in Lisbon and of Angolan descent, Essugo has been on the radar of several top European clubs due to his rapid development and strong physical presence in midfield.
He made headlines in March 2021 by becoming Sporting’s youngest-ever debutant at just 16 years and six days, and later became the club’s youngest starter, breaking a record previously held by Luis Figo.
After gaining senior experience with Sporting B and logging 23 appearances for the main squad, Essugo enjoyed productive loan spells, first with Chaves and more recently in La Liga with Las Palmas, where he featured 27 times and scored once during the 2024/25 campaign.
Regarded as one of Portugal’s most promising young midfielders, Essugo is a regular with the Portugal U21 national team, last featuring during the March international window.
The move aligns with Chelsea’s long-term recruitment strategy under Enzo Maresca, with the club focusing on signing high-upside young talents who can develop into first-team contributors or high-value assets.
