Premier League club, Chelsea FC, has confirmed the signing of Dario Essugo, from Portuguese Primeira Liga club, Sporting CP.
The midfielder, who spent last season on loan in La Liga club, Las Palmas, and is a Portugal Under-21 international, has signed a contract that will make him stay at Stamford Bridge until 2033.
Essugo kicked off his career in Sporting CP’s academy and emerged the youngest-ever player to field for the club when he made his senior debut aged 16 years and six days against Vitoria de Guimaraes in March 2021.
Later that year, he smashed Luis Figo’s record as the youngest starter for Sporting, aged 16 years, 11 months and 17 days.
With more experience with Sporting B and featuring on 23 occasions for the club’s first team, Essugo spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Primeira Liga side Chaves, for whom he recorded 14 appearances.
Two (2) more outings for Sporting followed at the start of the 2024/25 season before Essugo finalized a loan move to Las Palmas.
Essugo, 20, established himself as a regular for the Spanish side, recording 27 appearances and netting one goal for Los Amarillos across all competitions.
On the international level, Essugo has fielded for Portugal at different age groups. His most recent caps have come with the Under-21s, with his last appearance coming during the international break in March.
Chelsea will feature in the Uefa Champions League 2025/26 after finishing the Premier League 2024/25 in the fourth position, accumulating 69 points, two (2) points behind third-placed Manchester City.
