Christopher Nkunku’s Transfer to Chelsea: Position, Scoring Record, and Career Path
After starting his career at Paris St-Germain, Christopher Nkunku made a move to RB Leipzig in 2019. The anticipated transfer has now been confirmed, with Chelsea announcing their signing of Nkunku on Tuesday.
Chelsea triggered the release clause in Nkunku’s contract and secured his services for a fee of £52m, marking one of the significant additions to the squad since the arrival of the ownership group led by Todd Boehly. Nkunku’s arrival is expected to enhance Chelsea’s team and bring them closer to the likes of Manchester City and other top clubs in the Premier League.
At 25 years old, Nkunku is among the talented attacking players emerging from France in recent years. His decision to join RB Leipzig in 2019 stemmed from the realization that he couldn’t progress while overshadowed by the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at Paris St-Germain.
Leipzig offered Nkunku regular playing time, averaging 42 competitive games per season over the past four years, which allowed him to refine his game. Initially deployed as a winger by manager Julian Nagelsmann, he occasionally played in the number 10 role as well. Under the guidance of Domenico Tedesco and later Marco Rose, Nkunku began to play regularly as a striker.
Shifting from a winger to a central striker role allowed Nkunku to showcase his dribbling skills and agility in tight spaces. His goal-scoring ability flourished, as evidenced by his 35 goals in all competitions during the 2021-22 season, earning him the title of Bundesliga Player of the Season. In total, he has scored 70 goals in 172 games across all competitions for RB Leipzig.
Chelsea’s acquisition of Nkunku brings in a versatile and technically proficient player who combines creativity with a strong drive towards goal. While he exhibits flair with stepovers and dummies, his primary focus is delivering the ball into the penalty area.
In the past calendar year, Nkunku has consistently ranked among the top 10 percent of forwards in Europe’s major leagues in key statistical categories, including non-penalty goals per 90 minutes, pass completion percentage, and successful take-ons, according to analytics site FBref.com.
With Mauricio Pochettino set to take over as Chelsea manager on July 1st, Nkunku may be deployed as the central striker in Pochettino’s preferred tactical system. Given the potential departure of Kai Havertz and the uncertainty surrounding Romelu Lukaku’s return, Nkunku appears to be a logical fit for the position.
Alternatively, Nkunku could be utilized as a winger with the freedom to roam inside. This was demonstrated in the recent German Cup final, where RB Leipzig emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Nkunku started the match as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation, later transitioning to the wing when Yussuf Poulsen was introduced.
During his time on the wing, Nkunku displayed his speed, progressive passing abilities, and also contributed a goal by cutting inside from the left side in the 71st minute.
Despite setbacks in his career, such as missing out on the World Cup due to a knee ligament tear, Nkunku has made the most of his four years in the Bundesliga. He has received accolades for his performances, won two German Cup titles with RB Leipzig, and claimed the Bundesliga’s best goal scorer award for the 2022-23 season.
Expressing his excitement about joining Chelsea, Nkunku stated
