Chelsea Football Club has recently made headlines with its significant acquisitions, as the club announced the double signing of Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo from Sporting Lisbon for a combined fee of about £62.5 million (approximately $81 million). The Portuguese club confirmed on March 19, 2025, that 17-year-old winger Quenda would transition to Chelsea for just under £44 million, while 20-year-old Essugo is set to join for £18.5 million.
In the details of the agreement, Quenda will remain with Sporting until the end of the upcoming season before moving to the English Premier League. Known for his versatility on the wing, he has already established himself within Sporting’s first team and made a notable impact by scoring his first league goal against Famalicao in October. Essugo, a defensive midfielder, is also making waves and will finish the current campaign on loan at Las Palmas in La Liga before joining Chelsea.
These signings are not just a continuation of Chelsea’s strategy to invest in youthful talent. The club has also secured agreements for 17-year-old Brazilian forward Estevao Willian and 17-year-old Ecuadorian Kendry Paez, who will join the club ahead of next season. As Chelsea looks to strengthen its position, currently ranked fourth in the Premier League and pushing for Champions League qualification, the potential of these young players could play a vital role.
Aside from the excitement surrounding the new signings, Chelsea faced a stinging critique from former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan, who took to the airwaves recently to voice his views. Following Chelsea's recent loss to Arsenal on March 16, 2025, where they succumbed to a solitary headed goal from Mikel Merino, Jordan reflected on the demeanor of the Chelsea fan base and the club's history.
Jordan expressed a disdain for what he perceives as an entitled segment of Chelsea's support, stating, “There is an element of Chelsea fans that are part of an era that’s got entitlement attached to it. Chelsea before Abramovich had dalliances with success but weren’t much of a club, were they?” His comments sparked debate among fans, especially after an encounter where Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber was captured mocking Chelsea’s head coach Enzo Maresca on the sidelines, further inflaming the already unhappy Blues fans.
Reflecting back on Chelsea’s rise under Roman Abramovich’s ownership, Jordan suggested that the financial backing provided by the billionaire transformed Chelsea from a struggling club into a formidable force. “Roman Abramovich decided to fly over, looked at Tottenham, didn’t do a deal, then alighted upon Chelsea and decided to pour endless amounts of money designed to create success for Chelsea that wouldn’t have come organically as a result of their presence in English football,” he remarked. Furthermore, he criticized the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, suggesting that after the existential threats faced by the club due to the tumult surrounding Abramovich’s links to Putin and subsequent sanctions, one would expect the fan base to rally together in support of the team. “You would have thought Chelsea, after an existential threat...should have created a louder atmosphere at the Bridge,” he added.
As Chelsea’s players now brace for the international break, there is a need for regrouping and a fresh start ahead of the next match against Tottenham. With new signings set to make waves in the coming seasons, and amid criticism from figures like Jordan, the club finds itself at a finicky juncture. Will these young talents adapt quickly enough to contribute positively, or will the increasing pressure from the fanbase and pundits hinder their progress?
With these dynamic developments unfolding, the outlook remains mixed for both Chelsea and its supporters. For now, all eyes are on the upcoming fixtures and how these new players will help shape the future of the club.
