Chelsea has confirmed the signing of Lesley Ugochukwu, a Rennes midfielder, who made 47 appearances for the French club in the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season. The player has been acquired for 27 million euros (£23.2 million), according to Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s manager.
Despite Ugochukwu penning a seven-year contract, his immediate future remains uncertain, with the possibility of a loan on the cards. The 19-year-old, who also participated in the Europa League, is set to start training soon in London post-tour, after which a decision will be made.
Ugochukwu, who has yet to play for France’s senior team but has represented Les Bleus at various youth levels, could return to Ligue 1 next season. This comes as Chelsea’s ownership has recently acquired a majority stake in Strasbourg, another French team.
The pursuit of Moises Caicedo, a Brighton midfielder, has continued despite a £80 million bid being rejected. Manager Pochettino is advocating for more seasoned players to join the squad.
In line with their strategy of investing in promising young talent, Chelsea have cleared out several players from their packed team after spending £600 million over the previous two transfer windows. This summer has seen Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount exit the club for Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United respectively. Other players such as N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy have moved to the Saudi Pro League.
Italian club AC Milan is now home to Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic, while West Ham United has made a £40 million bid for Conor Gallagher. New additions to the Chelsea squad include attackers Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, and young Brazilian star, Angelo Gabriel.
Pochettino expresses satisfaction with the summer recruitment, acknowledging the need to finalize the squad quickly, and that unexpected changes can occur in the final weeks of the transfer window.
Regarding the future of defender Levi Colwill, following his successful loan spell at Brighton, it is highly likely that he will stay with Chelsea next season. Despite interest from other clubs, Colwill seems set to compete for a place in the squad, particularly given the injury of Ben Badiashile.
Stay tuned for more Chelsea news, analysis, and fan views, including the latest The Far Post podcast.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Lesley Ugochukwu Chelsea Transfer
Who has Chelsea FC signed recently?
Chelsea FC has signed Rennes midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu on a seven-year deal.
How much was the transfer fee for Lesley Ugochukwu?
Chelsea FC paid 27 million euros (£23.2 million) for Lesley Ugochukwu’s transfer from Rennes.
Who else has Chelsea FC been interested in signing?
Chelsea FC has been pursuing Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo during this transfer window, with an £80m bid rejected last week.
What is the future plan for Lesley Ugochukwu at Chelsea FC?
The immediate future of Lesley Ugochukwu at Chelsea FC is not decided yet. Manager Mauricio Pochettino mentioned that Ugochukwu may go on loan after his joining.
Who has left Chelsea FC recently?
Players including Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic have all left Chelsea FC recently.
What is the status of Levi Colwill at Chelsea FC?
Levi Colwill, after a successful loan spell at Brighton, is likely to stay with Chelsea FC for the next season.
6 comments
Not sure bout this one… seems like chelsea’s just hoarding young players and sending them off on loans. hardly seems fair.
Sad to see Ugochukwu go, he had some great games for us last season. Wish him all the best at Chelsea!
loosing kante and kovacic in one summer. this better work out Pochettino, we’re putting a lot of trust in you!
Trust in Poch! He’s a shrewd operator, knows what he’s doing. Let’s see how this pans out, I say!
Wow, 7-year deal for Ugochukwu?? chelsea’s really going long term here… hope he lives up to the expectations…
27m euros for a 19 year old! the market’s really gone mad. but if he turns into a superstar, it’ll be a steal. only time will tell i guess.