Chelsea have won the race to sign Sporting Lisbon's highly-rated winger Geovany Quenda, beating Manchester United and another Premier League club to his signature. The 17-year-old will remain at Sporting for the 2025-26 season before joining Chelsea in 2026, where he is expected to play as a winger rather than a wing-back.
Chelsea's pursuit of Quenda was a carefully planned operation, conducted in secret over several months to avoid leaks. Their ability to let him stay at Sporting for another year proved key in securing the deal, allowing them to negotiate a lower transfer fee of £40m, well below his €100m release clause. The Blues see Quenda as one of the top young wingers in world football, alongside Estevao Willian and Lamine Yamal.
While Manchester United had extensive talks and were confident of signing Quenda, they were unwilling to leave him on loan at Sporting for another season. Chelsea’s long-term project, Enzo Maresca’s tactical vision, and the promise of regular first-team opportunities helped sway the player’s decision. Quenda, who has excelled in multiple roles for Sporting, will likely be used as a left winger at Chelsea.
Despite his raw talent, he will need time to adapt to the Premier League. His pace, dribbling ability, and tactical intelligence make him an exciting prospect, but Chelsea will need to be patient with his development.
