Burnley Football Club has taken a significant stride in its bid to compete in the Premier League, announcing the permanent signing of French central midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu from Chelsea on 6 August 2025. The 21âyearâold has committed to a fiveâyear contract at Turf Moor, extending his stay until 2030.
Ugochukwu, once viewed as one of Chelsea’s emerging prospects after his 2023 move from Rennes, struggled to cement a regular place at Stamford Bridge, making just 15 appearances in his first season.
Having spent the 2024â25 campaign on loan at Southamptonâwhere he featured 31 times and netted onceâhe returns to the Premier League with renewed ambition and the chance to establish himself on a stable footing.
While the exact fee remains undisclosed by Burnley, multiple credible sources suggest it could be a clubârecord sum. The deal aligns with reports that Chelsea recouped approximately ÂŁ23.2 million for his transfer.
On joining, Ugochukwu expressed his enthusiasm: âItâs a great feeling to be signing for Burnley,â he remarked, before adding, âAs soon as I was made aware of the clubâs interest in signing me, I was keen to hear more about the project. I spoke to the manager and Maxime (Estève)âthey were both so passionate about the club and the direction itâs heading in. It feels like this is the perfect move for me at this stage of my career with the ambition the club is showing. Itâs a really exciting time to be here and I canât wait to get started. Iâm really excited to pull on the Burnley shirt in the Premier League.â
This signing marks Burnleyâs eleventh acquisition of the summer, further illustrating manager Scott Parkerâs determination to build a competitive squad ready for the challenges of topâflight football.
Among these moves, Ugochukwu follows teamâmates Bashir Humphreys and Armando Broja in joining from Chelsea, reinforcing the clubâs strategy of leveraging established relationships to strengthen the squad.
Ugochukwuâs football journey started at Rennes, where he emerged from the academy and made his senior firstâteam debut in April 2021.
A commanding presence standing at 1.90âŻm, he garnered attention for his defensive abilities and mature composure in the midfieldâqualities that have drawn comparisons to former French greats.
From Chelseaâs perspective, the sale of Ugochukwu aligns with a broader summer reshuffle. The club continues to offload fringe players following financial pressures and UEFA directives, with Ugochukwu among several midfielders and forwards exiting Stamford Bridge this transfer window.