Sporting CP midfielder Dario Essugo has agreed to join Chelsea, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The 20-year-old Portugal U21 international of Angolan descent has given the green light to a move, as Chelsea continue to strengthen their squad for the future.
Essugo is currently on loan at Spanish club Las Palmas, where he has been a regular this season.
Chelsea had initially shown interest in signing him during the January transfer window but opted to bring in Mathis Amougou from Saint-Étienne instead. Despite that signing, the Blues remain keen on adding Essugo to their ranks.
Reports in Portugal suggested that Chelsea had already reached an agreement with Sporting, but Romano clarified that no deal has been finalized yet. However, Chelsea are confident that a transfer fee of around €22 million will be enough to secure the midfielder’s services.
It remains unclear whether Essugo will move directly to Chelsea this summer, join sister club RC Strasbourg on loan, or stay at Sporting CP for further development.
His decision to accept Chelsea’s proposal suggests that he could initially play in France before making the transition to the Premier League.
Essugo has made 25 senior appearances for Sporting CP and has impressed during his loan spell at Las Palmas in LaLiga. If the deal goes through, he will follow Geovany Quenda, another Sporting youngster, in committing to Chelsea. The 17-year-old Quenda has already agreed to join Chelsea in 2026 on a seven-year deal.
