CHELSEA has acquired Lesley Ugochukwu, formerly of Rennes.

The Blues paid £23.2 million for the adolescent midfielder, who signed a seven-year contract with an eighth-year option.

Ugochukwu becomes Chelsea’s fifth summer signing, joining Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Angelo, and Diego Morreira at Stamford Bridge.

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The France U-19 representative has already begun his preseason tour of the United States with his new colleagues.

He is due to train in Chicago on Tuesday evening and might make his Chelsea debut against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.

Mauricio Pochettino, the manager, has stated that he could be loaned away before the transfer season shuts.

He informed the reporters in response to the signing, “He’s a talented person, but we need to evaluate him.”

We will analyze him during the transfer window to see if he will stay with us because of his youth.

He has the option of being loaned out or staying with us.

Ugochukwu arrives after graduating from the Rennes academy and making 60 first-team appearances.

He made his Ligue 1 debut in 2021, thirty days after turning seventeen, before becoming a regular last season.

The defensive midfielder excelled in both the league and Europe during the 2022-23 season.

Rennes had a successful season, finishing fourth in the league and going to the quarterfinals of the Europa League.