Chelsea Football Club has finalized the signing of French forward Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig in a significant transfer deal worth £63 million ($80 million) on Tuesday.
This move comes after Nkunku had already agreed to a pre-contract with the Premier League club in December. The 25-year-old has now officially joined Stamford Bridge, signing a lucrative six-year contract, as Chelsea aims to rebuild following a disappointing season.
In an official statement on the Chelsea website, it was announced, “Chelsea is delighted to announce Christopher Nkunku will join the club from RB Leipzig ahead of the 2023/24 season.”
Nkunku, who is highly regarded in European football, showcased his talent last season by scoring an impressive 23 goals in 36 games for Leipzig. This signing marks the first major acquisition under the managerial tenure of Mauricio Pochettino, who was appointed as Chelsea’s new manager in May.
Nkunku, a product of France’s prestigious Clairefontaine national football academy, spent four years at Paris Saint-Germain before joining Leipzig in 2019. During his time with the German club, Nkunku excelled and was named the Bundesliga Player of the Season in 2021-22, netting 20 goals and providing 15 assists in the league.
This season, he contributed an additional 23 goals, helping Leipzig secure a commendable third-place finish in the Bundesliga and scoring in their victorious German Cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, expressed their excitement about the signing, stating, “Christopher has proved himself one of the standout attacking players in European football over the past two seasons and will add quality, creativity, and versatility to our squad.”
Nkunku, who earned his France national team debut last year, expressed his enthusiasm for joining Chelsea and playing in the renowned Premier League.
Unfortunately, he suffered a leg injury that ruled him out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Nkunku bid farewell to Leipzig with a heartfelt message, expressing gratitude to the club, his teammates, coaching staff, and the fans, and leaving the door open for a potential return in the future.