CHELSEA have secretly completed a shock deal to land Sporting wonderkid Geovany Quenda from under Manchester United’s noses.
The 17-year-old sensation is a former protege of Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim.
And the Portuguese chief had considered a move for Quenda in January.
But after biding his time, Chelsea stepped in with what reports call a “secret blitz” to land the right winger, who can also wing-back.
Quenda underwent a medical in private and agreed to join after being impressed by Enzo Maresca’s vision for the West London giants.
Chelsea and Sporting have also agreed to the deal worth £40million.
Quenda will put pen to paper on a SEVEN-YEAR deal, with the option for an eighth – very much in line with Todd Boehly’s contract structure.
However, Blues fans will have to wait over a year to see their new man in action.
Quenda, who turns 18 next month, will stay at Sporting for the entirety of the 2025-26 season and will link up with his new Stamford Bridge pals in July 2026.
The left-footer has played 35 times for Sporting already this season, including huge Champions League games, scoring just once, even earning a call-up to Roberto Martinez’s senior Portugal squad.
He had been expected to join Man Utd, given his links to Amorim and the fact he’d be considered a perfect fit on the right of his old boss’ preferred 3-4-3 formation.
Amorim even deployed scouts to watch Quenda in February.
But instead, he will join fellow wonderkids Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez – who join this summer – in West London.
Quenda joined Sporting in 2019, aged just 13, with Amorim coming aboard a year later.
After keeping close tabs on his progress, the Guinea-Bissau-born winger became the youngest player to ever feature in Sporting’s reserves, aged 16.
He was promoted to the first-team at the start of this season, before Amorim ultimately quit to replace Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Speaking on the wonderkid, Amorim previously revealed: “He’s very talented, very mature and understands the game like an adult.
“He obviously has a lot to improve on, but I think he had an excellent game and we have a player there.”
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