The U21 Euros have been a launching pad for one future Chelsea player to really excite the club about what is to come.
Geovany Quenda has been on a mission throughout the international tournament to prove that the anticipation supporters have for Estevao Willian’s arrival should be mirrored for him in 12 months’ time.
Blues supporters have already compared Quenda to Estevão after watching him earlier in the tournament, when he scored twice and assisted another in a big win for Portugal against Poland.
Polish media admitted they couldn’t stop Quenda, and it looks as if the Georgia U21 defence had a similarly tough time dealing with him too.
Future Chelsea star Geovany Quenda on ‘another level’ in Portugal U21 win
The youngest player competing at the tournament scored and assisted again on the way to a 4-0 win, winning the group ahead of France in the process.
A Bola waxed lyrical about his performance, with them stunned at just how good he is despite playing three years above his age.
They said: “The winger showed that he is indeed a rich gift for Portuguese football. It’s incredible how, just over a month and a half after turning 18, Geovany Quenda shows that he is way above this level. And this level, it should be noted, has many people around 23 years old. But he is clearly on another level.
“Quenda showed it in the way he chipped the ball over two defenders to isolate Rafael Pinheiro for the first goal. He made it very clear in the class with which he combined with Gustavo Sá to score the 2-0, after a beautiful backheel from the midfielder. And those moves will also always be shown when we talk about this game.
“But it is in other details that we can see the player that Quenda already is and that convinced Chelsea to pay more than 50 million euros to take him to London. The maturity with which he reads the moments of the game and understands when to accelerate and when it is better to breathe. The way he drops back to help defend. How he appears in the middle. How he moves to the right when he has to. His entirety is a treatise.
“We will never talk about this team without mentioning the importance of Geovany Quenda. You can see why he is already a hero to kids almost his age.”
Quenda excited about Chelsea’s future
The Blues are continuing to sign some of the world’s most promising players, something that has been one of the keys of Todd Boehly’s time in charge of the club.
As well as Estevao, the Blues are expected to include Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr in their first team squad for next season.
Despite spending the last campaign on loan at Las Palmas, Quenda has spent time playing with Essugo, with Chelsea signing both from Sporting Lisbon.
Quenda is excited about linking up with Essugo again from 2026, with the midfielder already making his debut for the club in their 2-0 Club World Cup victory against LAFC.
