Chelsea have finalised the transfer of Sporting Lisbon youngster Dario Essugo.
The Premier League club are paying £18.5million with no add-ons involved. Essugo was a regular in La Liga last season during his loan spell at Las Palmas.
The Portugal Under-21 international has signed an eight-year contract with Chelsea, keeping him at the club until 2033.
The 20-year-old began his career in Sporting’s academy and made history as the club’s youngest-ever player when he debuted at just 16 years and six days old against Vitória de Guimarães in March 2021.
Later that year, he broke Luis Figo’s record as Sporting’s youngest-ever starter, taking the field at 16 years, 11 months, and 17 days old.
After gaining valuable experience with Sporting B and making 23 appearances for the first team, Essugo spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan at Primeira Liga side Chaves, where he featured in 14 matches.
He returned to Sporting for two more appearances at the start of the 2024/25 season before moving on loan to Las Palmas.
At Las Palmas, Essugo established himself as a regular, making 27 appearances and scoring one goal across all competitions.
Internationally, Essugo has represented Portugal at various youth levels, most recently featuring for the Under-21s during the March international break.
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