Chelsea-Bound Starlet Geovany Quenda Tipped for Greatness Amid Lamine Yamal Comparisons

Sporting CP wonderkid Geovany Quenda is set to join Chelsea in 2026, with coaches and former mentors hailing him as a future star of European football, likening his rise to that of Lamine Yamal.

Original Source
The Athletic
Written by
Craig 'Tosh' McKinnon
28 Mar
7:49
Analysis

The1905.Club Summary

Geovany Quenda’s remarkable journey from playing football in jeans at a Lisbon community club to sealing a £40 million move to Chelsea has captivated the football world. The 17-year-old Sporting CP winger has impressed coaches at every stage of his development with his exceptional dribbling, intelligence, and versatility. Initially overlooked by Benfica, Quenda found his stride at Sporting, breaking into the first team and scoring on his debut in the Portuguese Super Cup.

Though comparisons to Lamine Yamal may seem bold, Quenda’s former coaches insist they are valid, pointing to his maturity, tactical awareness, and physical strength. However, Chelsea’s already crowded roster of young attacking talents raises questions about how he will fit in. For now, Quenda remains focused on his continued growth in Portugal, while Chelsea must ensure they have a plan to harness his immense potential once he arrives in 2026.

Key Points

  • Geovany Quenda, 17, will join Chelsea in 2026 for £40 million from Sporting CP.
  • Began his journey playing in jeans at a community club in Lisbon after moving from Guinea-Bissau.
  • Excelled at Damaiense, briefly joined Benfica, and later found his stride at Sporting CP.
  • Made an early impact at Sporting, becoming the club’s youngest-ever scorer in the Portuguese Super Cup.
  • Praised for his dribbling, creativity, game intelligence, and defensive work rate.
  • Coaches compare his rise and talent to that of Barcelona's Lamine Yamal.
  • Concerns raised about Chelsea’s crowded attacking lineup and whether Quenda will have a clear path to the first team.
  • Still based at Sporting’s academy and receiving extra English lessons ahead of his move.
  • Seen as a long-term star for both Chelsea and the Portuguese national team.
  • More On This Story

    More sources covering the same story appear below 👇  
    Photo Credit
    Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images
    View original content
    Written by 
    Craig 'Tosh' McKinnon
    Co-founder of The1905Club. A life long Chelsea fan and season ticket holder for over twenty years. Now residing in Poland, this doesn't stop Tosh from watching every minute of every game.
    match report
    Live data provided by