Dário Essugo Biography: Age, Parents, Net Worth, Girlfriend, Salary, Height, Stats, Religion, Transfer

Biography

Dário Cassia Luís Essugo (born March 14, 2005, in Lisbon, Portugal) is a talented Portuguese professional footballer of Angolan descent who plays as a defensive midfielder for Chelsea in the Premier League.

He joined Sporting CP’s youth academy at the age of 9 and made headlines in 2021 by becoming the club’s youngest-ever debutant, appearing in a Primeira Liga match at just 16 years and 6 days old.

Later that year, he also became the youngest Portuguese player to feature in a UEFA Champions League match. Renowned for his physical strength, technical skill, and impressive duel success rate, Essugo has represented Portugal at multiple youth levels and scored during the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.

Following loan spells at Chaves and Las Palmas, where he demonstrated his defensive capabilities and adaptability, he signed with Chelsea in June 2025 for a transfer fee of €22 million.

Portuguese footballer
Dário Essugo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Dário Cassia Luís Essugo
Stage Name:	Dário Essugo
Born:	14 March 2005 (age 20 years old)
Place of Birth:	Odivelas, Lisbon, Portugal
Nationality:	Portuguese
Education:	Alcochete Youth Academy
Height:	1.79 m
Parents:	João Essugo, Maria Cassia Luís
Siblings:	Danilo Luís
Spouse:	Not Married
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	N/A
Occupation:	Footballer
Net Worth:	$1 million-$5 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Dário Cassia Luís Essugo was born on March 14, 2005, in Odivelas, a suburb of Lisbon, Portugal. He is of Angolan descent, holding dual Portuguese and Angolan citizenship, which reflects his ethnic background.

His parents, João Essugo and Maria Cassia Luís raised him in a Roman Catholic household, consistent with the prevalent religious culture in Portugal and Angola. Essugo has a brother, Danilo Luís, who is also involved in football, playing for SU Sintrense, a lower-tier Portuguese club.

Growing up in the Lisbon metropolitan area, Essugo displayed an early aptitude for football. He began his youth career with UDR Santa Maria before joining Sporting CP’s prestigious Alcochete youth academy in 2014 at age 9. His time at Sporting CP’s academy was instrumental in honing his skills as a defensive midfielder, leading to his record-breaking debut for the senior team in 2021 at 16 years and 6 days, making him the club’s youngest-ever debutant.

Specific details about his formal education are not publicly documented, as is common for young athletes focused on professional sports careers.

Career

Dário Cassia Luís Essugo, born on March 14, 2005, in Odivelas, Portugal, is a professional footballer of Angolan descent who plays as a defensive midfielder for Chelsea in the Premier League.

He began his football journey with UDR Santa Maria before joining Sporting CP’s renowned Alcochete academy in 2014 at just 9 years old.

Essugo’s swift development led to a historic first-team debut for Sporting on March 20, 2021, in a 1–0 Primeira Liga victory over Vitória de Guimarães, making him the youngest player ever to appear for the club at 16 years and 6 days. On December 7, 2021, he further etched his name into the record books by becoming Portugal’s youngest UEFA Champions League debutant at 16 years and 268 days, coming on in a 4–2 loss to Ajax.

During his early senior career at Sporting CP, Essugo was part of two Primeira Liga title-winning squads, although his playing time was limited due to his age. In January 2024, he was loaned to Chaves, where he impressed with a 67.3% defensive duel win rate and drew 2.1 fouls per 90 minutes, standing out despite the club’s relegation.

Later that year, on August 30, he moved on loan to La Liga side Las Palmas, starting with the reserve team but quickly earning a spot in the senior squad. He made his La Liga debut on September 21, 2024, playing 74 minutes in a 2–1 loss to Osasuna and netted his first senior goal on November 23 in a 3–2 defeat to Mallorca.

However, his stint included disciplinary issues, including a three-game suspension for sarcastically applauding a referee in a January 2025 match against Osasuna. Across his first two La Liga games, Essugo registered 148 minutes, 87% passing accuracy, 6 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a 66.7% duel win rate, underscoring his defensive potential.

In June 2025, Chelsea secured Essugo’s transfer from Sporting CP for €22 million (£18.5 million) ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup. He had attracted interest from clubs like Tottenham, with comparisons drawn to Mousa Dembélé due to his dribbling, strength, and defensive work rate.

Known for his physicality, relentless energy, and composure under pressure, Essugo excels in tackling, recovery runs, and initiating play from deep positions. He boasts a 69.7% dribble success rate and an ideal body composition for physical contests, with no major weaknesses noted in his game.

On the international stage, Essugo has represented Portugal across youth levels, scoring in the quarter-finals of the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship against France—a match that ended 2–2 and was decided by penalties.

He made his debut for Portugal’s U21 team at 18, featuring in a 3–0 win over Andorra on September 8, 2023. Prior to his Chelsea move, he was under contract with Sporting CP until 2027 and had a market value estimated between €8 and €15 million. Essugo is widely regarded as a high-upside midfielder capable of developing into a core player at the elite level.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Dário Essugo
• Instagram: Dário Essugo (@darioessugo6)

Personal Life

Dário Cassia Luís Essugo, born March 14, 2005, is 20 years old.

Standing at approximately 5 feet 10 inches (1.79 meters) tall, the young footballer has no publicly reported information regarding a wife, marriage, or children, which is typical for someone of his age focused on a professional sports career.

There are also no verified details about his dating history, as Essugo maintains a private personal life, with public attention centred on his football achievements, including his recent €22 million transfer to Chelsea in June 2025.

Net Worth

Dário Essugo, the 20-year-old Portuguese midfielder who transferred to Chelsea from Sporting CP for €22 million in June 2025, has an estimated net worth of $1 million to $5 million, driven by his growing football career. His current market value is approximately €15 million.

During his 2024-2025 loan at Las Palmas, he earned an estimated gross base salary of €480,000 per season, equating to about €9,231 per week, excluding bonuses. Unverified claims on social media suggest Chelsea offered him a weekly wage of £85,000 (€100,000+), but this remains unconfirmed.