Chelsea have signed Rennes midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu to a long-term contract.
The Blues made substantial headway in their efforts to recruit the highly regarded French talent over the weekend, according to sources.
The Premier League club have completed a €27 million (£23.2 million) deal for the 19-year-old, who has already made an impression in Ligue 1.
Three days later, Chelsea have declared that the prospective player has moved to Stamford Bridge, signing a seven-year contract.
Lesley Ugochukwu set to join Chelsea
Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, co-sporting directors of the club, stated on the club’s official website:
“We’re delighted Lesley is joining Chelsea. He is an impressive young player who has already made his mark in Ligue 1.”
“He has a huge amount of potential and we know he is going to continue to develop and improve. We are pleased that he has joined us in the U.S and that he will be able to integrate with the squad quickly.”
Ugochukwu has traveled to the United States despite the fact that Chelsea have only one game left on their schedule, which is against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening.
He had appeared in Rennes’ first two summer friendlies before being left out of the most recent games against Brest and West Ham United.
The defensive-minded midfielder leaves the Ligue 1 club after appearing in 60 games in all competitions, 37 of which came in 2022-23.
Despite his talent, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has already stated that Ugochukwu would be loaned out next season, most likely to Strasbourg.
Nonetheless, the Argentine is thought to be weighing his options, with Chelsea having failed to reach an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo.
Chelsea’s only senior midfielders are Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher, with the remaining options all being prospects and teenagers with little Premier League experience.
Chelsea did not say if Ugochukwu will stay with the first squad or move on in their formal announcement.
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