Chelsea have made a surprising move to secure the signing of highly-rated Sporting winger Geovany Quenda in a deal worth approximately €50 million (£42.1 million). The 17-year-old, who had been strongly linked with a transfer to Manchester United, is now set to join Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2026.
Quenda, who developed through Sporting’s youth system after joining at the age of 13, has already made 43 appearances for the club. He is widely considered one of the most exciting young talents in European football, and his signing reinforces Chelsea’s commitment to a long-term strategy focused on developing young players. The London club is also in negotiations to sign 20-year-old midfielder Dario Essugo from the same Portuguese club.
Since undergoing a change in ownership, Chelsea’s approach to recruitment has centered on acquiring promising youngsters and offering them long-term, performance-based contracts. This policy has seen them bring in some of the brightest young prospects from across the world in an effort to build a competitive team for the future.
The arrival of Quenda is the latest example of this strategy, following a series of high-profile youth acquisitions. Chelsea have already secured the signing of Estêvão from Palmeiras, with the Brazilian youngster set to arrive in the summer. His impressive performances have earned him a call-up to the Brazil national team, further highlighting his potential. In addition, Chelsea recently completed the signing of 17-year-old Ecuadorian playmaker Kendry Páez, another player regarded as a future star.
While the club has faced challenges in maintaining consistency on the pitch in recent seasons, their vision remains clear: to build a squad filled with top young talents who can develop into elite-level players. This youth-driven approach is part of a broader plan to ensure long-term success, and securing Quenda’s signature is another step toward achieving that goal.
With Quenda’s arrival scheduled for 2026, Chelsea will be looking forward to integrating him into their project alongside other exciting young signings. The club’s willingness to invest in young players continues to shape its future, and the signing of the Portuguese winger represents another significant addition to an evolving squad.
