Chelsea sign Nigerian-born midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes
Chelsea have signed teenage midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu from Ligue 1 side Stade Rennes on a seven-year contract with an option of another year, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.
“Chelsea has completed the signing of teenage midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu,” the club statement read, announcing the arrival of the midfielder, the nephew of former Super Eagles defender Onyekachi Apam.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but British media reported that Chelsea had paid Rennes about €27.5 million ($30.15 million) for the 19-year-old.
Ugochukwu, a France under-19 international, was a regular at Rennes last season, helping the club finish fourth in the French top flight and making the Europa League knockout stage.
“He has a huge amount of potential, and we know he is going to continue to develop and improve,” co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said.
“We are pleased that he has joined us (on tour) in the U.S. and that he will be able to integrate with the squad quickly.”
Ugochukwu joined the Rennes youth system aged eight and made his senior debut just after his 17th birthday, becoming the club’s fourth-youngest debutant.
(Reuters/NAN)
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