The 19-year-old arrives on a seven-year deal with a one-year club option. He left his hometown team Rennes, where he played regularly as they finished fourth in Ligue 1 of France and advanced to the knockout round of the Europa League last year.
‘We’re happy Lesley is joining Chelsea,’ said co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley. He is a talented young player who has established himself in Ligue 1. He has a tonne of potential, and we know he will keep growing and getting better. We are happy that he has joined us in the United States and that he will be able to immediately fit in with the team.
Ugochukwu has quickly built a reputation as a ball-winning midfielder and a good user of possession. He joined the Rennes youth system at eight years old and made his senior debut just after his 17th birthday. He became the club’s fourth-youngest debutant at the time.
His first Ligue 1 start came a fortnight later against Paris Saint-Germain; Ugochukwu impressed playing against Neymar that night. Earlier that season he had been on the bench when the Brittany club travelled to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League.
Ugochukwu, a France Under-19 international, has established himself as a regular with Rennes over the past two seasons and leaves having made 67 appearances.
Welcome to Chelsea, Lesley!
