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When will Dario Essugo be able to make his Chelsea debut?
The midfielder is Chelsea-bound after a deal was wrapped up this week (Picture: Getty Images) Chelsea are planning to keep Dario Essugo in their first-team squad next season after signing the midfielder from Sporting CP. Enzo Maresca’s side have now officially completed a double deal with Sporting for both Essugo and Geovany Quenda for a combined fee of €74.5 million (£62.4m). Quenda, who was also wanted by Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window, will move to Stamford Bridge in 2026 with Chelsea paying €50.7m (£42.4m) up front, plus a further €1.3m (£1m) in performance-related add-ons. Essugo, meanwhile, will make the switch to Chelsea this summer after a €22.2m (£18.6m) transfer fee was agreed with Sporting. The 20-year-old is currently spending the season on loan at La Liga side Las Palmas and has impressed with his displays in a defensive midfield role. Get personalised updates on Chelsea every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Leeds United, who currently sit top of the Championship and in contention of automatic promotion to the Premier League, had also explored the possibility of signing Essugo in the January window before Chelsea made their move. Dario Essugo is currently spending the season on loan at Las Palmas in La Liga (Shutterstock) According to The Athletic, Chelsea view Essugo as a player who can provide cover for Moises Caicedo and have no plans to immediately send him out on loan. Caicedo, who has been one of the standout performers under Enzo Maresca, has started all 29 Premier League games for Chelsea this season. Speaking last month, Maresca insisted he had no concerns over potential fatigue with Caicedo. ‘Since we started he has been doing fantastic in all aspects,’ Maresca said. ‘He’s improving a lot, he’s understanding the game, he’s going in different positions and he’s open-minded. He’s a good guy, he’s humble, he works hard, so for a coach he is the perfect player. ‘He’s playing a lot of minutes, but I think if you compare to other players at Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester City, there are many players that play more than Moi is playing for us. ‘Moi is playing more or less one game a week and at 23 if you cannot play one game a week that means there is something wrong.’ Chelsea also signed Mathis Amougou in a £12m deal from Saint-Etienne in the January transfer window but the 19-year-old central midfielder has made just one substitute appearance since arriving at Stamford Bridge and is expected to join Strasbourg on loan in the summer. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Chelsea are planning to keep Dario Essugo in their first-team squad next season after signing the midfielder from Sporting CP.
Enzo Maresca’s side have now officially completed a double deal with Sporting for both Essugo and Geovany Quenda for a combined fee of €74.5 million (£62.4m).
Quenda, who was also wanted by Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window, will move to Stamford Bridge in 2026 with Chelsea paying €50.7m (£42.4m) up front, plus a further €1.3m (£1m) in performance-related add-ons.
Essugo, meanwhile, will make the switch to Chelsea this summer after a €22.2m (£18.6m) transfer fee was agreed with Sporting.
The 20-year-old is currently spending the season on loan at La Liga side Las Palmas and has impressed with his displays in a defensive midfield role.
Get personalised updates on Chelsea every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Leeds United, who currently sit top of the Championship and in contention of automatic promotion to the Premier League, had also explored the possibility of signing Essugo in the January window before Chelsea made their move.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea view Essugo as a player who can provide cover for Moises Caicedo and have no plans to immediately send him out on loan.
Caicedo, who has been one of the standout performers under Enzo Maresca, has started all 29 Premier League games for Chelsea this season.
Speaking last month, Maresca insisted he had no concerns over potential fatigue with Caicedo.
‘Since we started he has been doing fantastic in all aspects,’ Maresca said.
‘He’s improving a lot, he’s understanding the game, he’s going in different positions and he’s open-minded. He’s a good guy, he’s humble, he works hard, so for a coach he is the perfect player.
‘He’s playing a lot of minutes, but I think if you compare to other players at Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester City, there are many players that play more than Moi is playing for us.
‘Moi is playing more or less one game a week and at 23 if you cannot play one game a week that means there is something wrong.’
Chelsea also signed Mathis Amougou in a £12m deal from Saint-Etienne in the January transfer window but the 19-year-old central midfielder has made just one substitute appearance since arriving at Stamford Bridge and is expected to join Strasbourg on loan in the summer.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
