Chelsea COMPLETE signing of Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes for £23.5m

Chelsea have completed the signing of teenage French midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes for £23.5m.

The 19-year-old moves to Stamford Bridge after agreeing a seven-year contract, with the option of a further year.

Ugochukwu is predominantly a defensive midfielder and made 67 senior appearances for Rennes, who finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season to qualify for the Europa League.

After his move was confirmed, co-sporting direcotrs Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: '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.’

Mail Sport had reported last Saturday how the two clubs had settled on a deal worth around £23m for the France under-19 international.

His signing comes at a time when Chelsea are low on central midfielders after losing five from last season's squad during the summer.

Though Chelsea have also been trying to find an agreement with Brighton for Moises Caicedo and remain interested in Southampton’s Romeo Lavia to bolster that department of their squad, loaning Ogochukwu out to their partner club Strasbourg to continue his development is also an option.

Chelsea’s signing of up and coming under-21 prospects has been a feature of their transfer business under the new regime.

Ogochukwu will join a list that already includes goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, midfielders Cesare Casadei, Andrey Santos, and Carney Chukwuemeka, wingers Diego Moreira, Dujuan ‘Whisper’ Richards and Angelo plus striker David Datro Fofana.

Chelsea also agreed a deal with Independiente del Valle to sign highly-rated Ecuadorian midfielder Kendry Paez who cannot join the club until after he is 18 in May 2025.