Chelsea have secured one other of European soccer’s most highly-rated prospects with their deal to signal Geovany Quenda from Sporting.
On Friday, shock information emerged that Chelsea have agreed to pay round £40million for the 17-year-old, who will spend the remainder of this season and subsequent together with his Portuguese membership earlier than shifting to Stamford Bridge in the summertime of 2026.
The transfer is already being talked of as a significant coup, with the Blues beating off competitors from Manchester United, who had been favourites to signal Quenda given his relationship with Ruben Amorim.
However simply who’s Quenda and why have Chelsea moved so swiftly to snap him up?
Quenda was born within the African nation of Guinea-Bissau however moved to Portugal as a schoolboy and has represented his adopted homeland at age-group degree.
Having been on Benfica’s books, he switched to Lisbon rivals Sporting on the age of 13 and, although the Covid pandemic briefly threatened to stall his improvement, has made plenty of main breakthroughs within the seasons since.
Chelsea have crushed off competitors from Manchester United to signal Quenda from Sporting
AFP through Getty Photos
In 2023 he signed his first skilled contract and was a star performer throughout Portugal’s run to the ultimate of the European Underneath-17 Championship the next summer season, securing a spot within the group of the event.
Aged simply 17 years and 95 days, he made his senior debut for Sporting on this season’s Portuguese Tremendous Cup and have become the membership’s youngest ever goalscorer together with his strike in a 4-3 defeat to Porto.
Throughout all competitions, Quenda now has 10 objectives involvements in 44 video games this season and has shattered plenty of membership information, together with for the youngest participant to play in a Lisbon derby, which was beforehand held by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The teen was known as as much as the senior Portugal squad final August and although he’s but to make his debut, may achieve this this month having once more been summoned by Roberto Martinez.
What they’ve mentioned about Quenda
Ruben Amorim, who gave Quenda his Sporting debut: “He’s a really proficient child. Very bodily strong, very centered, together with his toes firmly on the bottom. That is crucial for a younger participant.
“He received his likelihood and there was no likelihood to take it away, little question, nothing. I feel he will be a terrific participant, however let’s give it time.”
Roberto Martinez, after handing Quenda his first worldwide call-up: “He confirmed unbelievable persona, high quality and flexibility. He has technical high quality, however it’s not regular for a 17-year-old.
Quenda has been known as as much as the senior Portugal squad for the primary time
Getty Photos for DFB
“He performed very nicely within the European Championship with the Underneath-17s. He is proven that he is prepared for the nationwide group. Excellent news for Portuguese soccer.”
Manchester Metropolis midfielder Bernardo Silva, on his new Portugal team-mate: “He’ll most likely steal my place. At 17, I wasn’t even enjoying for Benfica’s youth group.”
Why Chelsea have signed Quenda now
Underneath the possession of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, Chelsea have put an nearly unprecedented emphasis on signing the most effective younger expertise soccer has to supply.
That has included high-profile strikes for established stars like Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, however has additionally seen the Blues goal teenage prospects on the cusp of main breakthroughs.
The obvious examples are but to reach on the membership, with Ecuadorian Kendry Paez and the much-hyped Estevao Willian attributable to arrive as soon as they flip 18 this summer season in transfers that had been introduced in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Each have continued enjoying first-team soccer at their present golf equipment within the interim and Chelsea consider the identical association will greatest serve Quenda’s improvement, with Sporting seeking to retain their league title this season and on target to play Champions League soccer once more subsequent.
Transferring now additionally allowed Chelsea to steal a march on Manchester United, the place he was needed by Amorim however who’re working below important monetary restraints.
Getting a deal carried out now additionally prevented a summer season bidding warfare, with the price of round £40m lower than half of Quenda’s official launch clause.
The place Quenda will he slot in at Chelsea
When it comes to place, Quenda is a large participant able to enjoying on each flanks; he emerged enjoying primarily as a wing-back on the best below Amorim, however has since been used as a extra standard winger on the left by new Sporting boss Rui Borges. His long-term future is anticipated to come back within the extra attacking position.
Quenda is a large participant able to enjoying on each flanks
Getty Photos
What precisely which means at Chelsea is tough to asses given the variety of wingers on the golf equipment books and the turnover of gamers over the previous few seasons.
Nevertheless, among the many incumbents, each Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix look prone to go away this summer season – the latter is already on mortgage at AC Milan – whereas Jadon Sancho faces an unsure future as an more and more underwhelming mortgage from Manchester United nears its finish. Chelsea have an obligation to make the deal everlasting, however that on no account ensures a spot in Enzo Maresca’s long-term plans.
Mykhailo Mudryk’s future can also be up within the air, with the Ukrainian winger provisionally suspended following a failed medicine take a look at.
Estevao’s arrival will add to Maresca’s choices, with Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke the present first-choice pair when match.
