Chelsea sign French attacker Christopher Nkunku in £52m deal from RB Leipzig

Chelsea have bagged themselves a major signing in the form of France striker Christopher Nkunku, who joins from RB Leipzig for a hefty fee of £52m.

The 25-year-old was in fine form last season, netting an impressive 16 goals in just 25 Bundesliga appearances.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino, who took the helm in May, is delighted to secure Nkunku as his first acquisition for the club.

The French forward, boasting 10 international caps, expressed his excitement about the move, stating, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Chelsea. They made a significant effort to bring me on board, and I couldn’t be more eager to take on this challenge. It will be an honor to don the Chelsea shirt.”

Having previously plied his trade in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, Nkunku now sets his sights on the Premier League, widely regarded as one of the most competitive leagues globally. He eagerly anticipates meeting his new coach and teammates, aiming to impress the Chelsea faithful with his skills on the pitch.

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“I am incredibly happy to be joining Chelsea. A big effort was made to bring me to the club. I am very excited for this challenge and will be proud to wear the Chelsea shirt,” Nkunku said.

“Having played in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, I now want to play in the Premier League, one of the strongest leagues in the world.

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“I am looking forward to meeting my new coach and team-mates and showing the Chelsea supporters what I can do on the pitch.”

Nkunku, whose Chelsea contract commences on July 1, enjoyed a fruitful spell at Paris St-Germain, securing three Ligue 1 titles and two French Cups during his four-year stint before his move to Leipzig in 2019. His remarkable performances in the Bundesliga earned him accolades, as he was named both Bundesliga Player of the Season and German PFA Player of the Season in 2021-22, thanks to his contribution of 20 goals and 15 assists in the league.

Just this month, Nkunku found the back of the net in the German Cup final, aiding Leipzig in clinching their second consecutive title in the competition. Leipzig finished third in the Bundesliga last season, with Nkunku playing a pivotal role in their success.

Although he made his debut for France last year, an unfortunate leg injury prevented Nkunku from participating in the World Cup campaign.

Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, expressed their delight in acquiring the services of Nkunku, recognizing him as one of the standout attacking talents in European football over the past couple of seasons.

“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.“