Chelsea Signs 19 Years Old Rennes Midfielder - Lesley Ugochukwu

 

Lesley Ugochukwu featured 47 times in Ligue 1 for Rennes in 2022-23 and just completed signing €27 million, seven years deal with Chelsea. Ugochukwu is a French under 21 international of Nigerian descend. His father and manager, Mr Ugochukwu, is from Orji - Owerri in IMO state Nigeria.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino says new signing Lesley Ugochukwu may go on loan after the midfielder joined Chelsea for 27m euros (£23.2m) from Rennes.

Ugochukwu has signed a seven-year deal but Pochettino has not yet decided the Frenchman's immediate future.

The 19-year-old has made 47 Ligue 1 appearances for Rennes and has also featured in the Europa League.

"We need to assess him when he starts training today and then in London after the tour," said Pochettino.

"He's a young, talented player. Now is the time to assess him until the end of the transfer window and see if he is going to be with us or maybe it can be a possibility to loan him."

Ugochukwu, whose deal has the option of another year, is yet to make his senior debut for France but has played for Les Bleus at under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels.

He could return to Ligue 1 for next season because the Blues' ownership group purchased a majority stake in Alsace club Strasbourg in June.

Chelsea have been pursuing Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo throughout the transfer window - with a £80m bid rejected last week - and Pochettino has been calling for more experienced players to add to his squad.

 

Chelsea have a strategy of signing young talent with the potential to be future stars while clearing out their bloated squad following a £600m spend in the past two transfer windows.