After Lesley Ugochukwu’s signing was officially announced today, Mauricio Pochetinno, the new manager of Chelsea, provided an update on the player.
The midfielder was acquired for 27 million euros on a seven-year contract with an option to extend it by another year from French club Stade Rennais.
He fills a critical position that the squad was in dire need of filling before his arrival: defensive midfield.
The 19-year-old, who is also the nephew of former Nigerian center-back Onyekachi Akpam, is eligible to play for the Nigerian National Team but has already represented France at various youth levels. Coach Pochettino stated on the club’s official website;
“Today is going to be his first training session with us. He is a young and talented player. We don’t know if we have the possibility for him to play tomorrow but we will assess him. Now it is time to assess him until the end of the transfer window, and see if he is going to be with us or go on loan.”
Speaking on how he feels Chelsea have gone on about their business in the transfer window, he said;
“I am happy with how the club is working, us included. We are working hard to try to finish the squad as soon as possible. But we all understand that maybe during the last few weeks of the transfer window, things are going to happen, It is always better to have everything closed before. But not only for us, every other club too. It is important to close the squad in the way that we want.
