Chelsea have formally announced the signing of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Dario Essugo.
Blues fans spent Monday expecting the newly-crowned Conference League champions to confirm the acquisition of Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap.
Rather than reveal the addition of the Englishman, Chelsea took to social media on Monday evening to acknowledge that they had signed Essugo on a long-term contract.
Back in March, it was revealed that the Premier League giants would be signing the defensive-minded midfielder after his loan stint with Las Palmas.
However, prior to the Club World Cup starting later this month, the 20-year-old has been confirmed as a Chelsea player, the assumption being that he is in contention to feature at the tournament in the United States.
© Imago
What is Essugo contract length?
Chelsea have revealed that they have handed the Portugal Under-21 international a contract that runs until the end of 2032-33.
He made a total of 25 starts and two substitute outings in La Liga during 2024-25, failing to prevent Las Palmas from suffering relegation.
Essugo had previously made 25 appearances in a Sporting Lisbon shirt and 14 outings during a loan stint with Chaves.
Furthermore, a total of 109 minutes of football have been earned across five appearances in the Champions League and Europa League, highlighting that he had been highly thought of at Sporting.
© Imago
What will Essugo future entail?
As someone who has just played regularly in La Liga, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Essugo could spent next season as Chelsea's fifth-choice central midfielder.
Mathis Amougou is in line to link up with Strasbourg on loan for 2025-26 and Essugo could theoretically emerge as a straight alternative to the French youngster.
That said, club officials will not want to stint the development of a player who has cost a reported £18.5m. He could plausibly spend the first half of next season at Chelsea before heading out on loan in the winter window.
With Chelsea able to name 35 players in their squad for the Club World Cup, Essugo is in line to spend the next several weeks in the United States with his new teammates.
Darren Plant
