Lesley Ugochukwu

Lesley Ugochukwu

Ugochukwu warming up for Chelsea in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Lesley Chimuanya Ugochukwu[1]
Date of birth	(2004-03-26) 26 March 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth	Rennes, France[1]
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s)	Central midfielder
Team information
Current team	Southampton (on loan from Chelsea)
Number	26
Youth career
2010–2011	ASPTT Rennes
2011–2012	Cercle Paul Bert [fr]
2012–2021	Rennes
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020	Rennes II	5	(0)
2021–2023	Rennes	47	(1)
2023–	Chelsea	12	(0)
2024–	→ Southampton (loan)	10	(0)
International career^‡
2021–2022	France U18	9	(1)
2022–2023	France U19	9	(2)
2024	France U20	1	(0)
2023–	France U21	6	(0)
2024	France Olympic	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:45, 4 January 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:28, 11 July 2024 (UTC)

Lesley Chimuanya Ugochukwu (// ^ⓘ; born 26 March 2004) is a French professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Southampton, on loan from Chelsea.^[3]

Career

Rennes

Ugochukwu made his professional debut for Rennes on 25 April 2021, replacing Steven Nzonzi in a 5–1 Ligue 1 win against Dijon.^[4]

Chelsea

On 1 August 2023, Ugochukwu signed for Chelsea on a seven-year contract, with a club option for an additional year.^[5] The transfer fee paid to Rennes was reported as up to £23.1 million.^[6] On 13 August, he made his debut for the club, coming on as a substitute, in a 1–1 draw against Liverpool in the Premier League.^[7]

Southampton (loan)

On 16 August 2024, Ugochukwu joined English side Southampton on a season-long loan.^[8] He made his debut for the club on 28 August 2024 in a 3–5 away victory against Cardiff City in the EFL Cup.^[9]

Personal life

Born in France, Ugochukwu is of Igbo Nigerian descent and holds dual nationality.^[10][11] Ugochukwu is the nephew of former Rennes and Nigeria centre-back Onyekachi Apam.^[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 12 January 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Rennes B	2020–21	Championnat National 3	5	0	—		—		—		5	0
Rennes	2020–21	Ligue 1	3	0	0	0	—		0	0	3	0
	2021–22	Ligue 1	18	1	0	0	—		4[c]	0	22	1
	2022–23	Ligue 1	26	0	2	0	—		7[d]	0	35	0
	Total		47	1	2	0	—		11	0	60	1
Chelsea	2023–24[13]	Premier League	12	0	0	0	3	0	—		15	0
	Total		12	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	15	0
Southampton (loan)	2024–25[14]	Premier League	10	0	1	0	3	0	—		14	0
Career total			74	1	3	0	6	0	11	0	94	1

1. Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup
3. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

1. "Lesley Ugochukwu". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
2. "Lesley Ugochukwu". Chelsea FC. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
3. Lesley Ugochukwu at Soccerway. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
4. "Résultat et résumé Rennes – Dijon, Ligue 1 Uber Eats, 34e journée, Dimanche 25 Avril 2021". L'Équipe (in French). Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
5. "Ugochukwu becomes a Blue". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
6. "Chelsea transfer news: Blues agree £23.1m deal to sign Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes". Sky Sports. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
7. Boswell, Zinny (13 August 2023). "Chelsea 1–1 Liverpool: Mauricio Pochettino's side fight back to draw his first Premier League game in charge". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
8. "Lesley Ugochukwu completes loan move to Saints". Southampton FC. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
9. Mitchelmore, Ian (28 August 2024). "Cardiff City 3–5 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
10. "Rohr Identifies 16 Year Old Rennes Midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu As Alternative To Ndidi". 8 September 2020.
11. "Lesley UGOCHUKWU". unfp.org. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
12. Christenson, Marcus (7 October 2021). "Next Generation 2021: 60 of the best young talents in world football". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
13. "Games played by Lesley Ugochukwu in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
14. "Games played by Lesley Ugochukwu in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2024.

External links

• Profile at the Chelsea F.C. website
• Lesley Ugochukwu at the French Football Federation (in French)
• Lesley Ugochukwu – UEFA competition record (archive)