Giovanni Kunda and Dario Essougo set to join Chelsea

Sporting CP officially confirmed that it has reached an agreement with Chelsea, and young players Giovanni Kunda and Dario Essugo will join the Blues in 2026 and this summer respectively.

The 17-year-old Kunda was originally the focus of Manchester United, but Chelsea acted quickly and locked in the winger for a price of up to 41.9 million pounds. Kunda has made his mark in the first team of Sporting CP this season, and the coach is Ruben Amorim, the potential new coach of Manchester United. According to the agreement, he will continue to stay at Sporting CP until 2026, and then officially go to Stamford Bridge.

Kunda can play as a winger and wingback. He has passed the medical examination and is expected to sign a seven-year contract with Chelsea with an option for an additional year. It is reported that he chose the Blues because the club is willing to give him enough time to grow, and Chelsea's training model for young players in recent years is also quite attractive.

The 20-year-old Essugo is currently on loan to La Liga's Las Palmas from Sporting CP, and his transfer fee is expected to be £18.5 million. The defensive midfielder has completed a medical examination and will officially join Chelsea this summer.

Chelsea sees Esugo as a midfield reinforcement with tackling and interception capabilities. He is expected to get stable playing time under Enzo Maresca's system to enhance the team's midfield depth. Esugo made his debut for Sporting CP in 2021 at the age of 16 years and 6 days, becoming the youngest player in the team's history. Now he finally has the opportunity to prove himself on the Premier League stage.

Chelsea has continued to invest in young players in recent years, and the introduction of Kunda and Esugo further demonstrates the club's long-term planning and future layout.