Chelsea are on the verge of securing a summer transfer for highly-rated Portuguese midfielder Dario Essugo, who made history as Sporting Lisbon’s youngest-ever debutant under Ruben Amorim.
Amorim handed Essugo his professional debut in 2020, just days after the midfielder turned 16. He went on to break several records, becoming the youngest Portuguese player to feature in the Champions League and surpassing Luis Figo as Sporting’s youngest-ever starter.
However, despite his early promise, the 19-year-old has struggled for consistent game time, making only 23 appearances for Sporting.
To gain more experience, Essugo moved on loan to Chaves in early 2024 and later joined Las Palmas, where his performances have caught Chelsea’s attention. The Blues explored a January move but ultimately postponed their pursuit until the summer.
Now, according to The Sun, they are close to finalizing a deal, though they must convince the teenager he will have real opportunities in a squad stacked with talent.
Chelsea had a quiet January window, bringing in only Mathis Amougou from St. Etienne while offloading several players, including Joao Felix, Ben Chilwell, and Axel Disasi. Enzo Maresca remained content with the club’s strategy, emphasizing the squad’s adaptability.
Meanwhile, Amorim, now at Manchester United, has yet to sign any of his former Sporting stars but is expected to push for a blockbuster move for prolific striker Viktor Gyökeres this summer.