The individual discusses their decision to choose Chelsea as their preferred team for the Super Eagles qualifier.
Lesley Ugochukwu, a 19-year-old defensive midfielder, has decided to join Chelsea due to the allure of playing for a big club. He joined Ligue 1 club Rennes two years ago, but has not been a regular starter at the club, making only 53 appearances in all competitions since 2021.
Since Todd Boehly took over as Chelsea’s new owner, the club has signed a variety of players, with the common feature being their young age. Ugochukwu was one of the recruits this summer, with Chelsea paying Rennes just over €27 million to secure his services.
For an unestablished and inexperienced 19-year-old, remaining at Rennes could have been the safe option. However, Ugochukwu decided to join Chelsea, where game time may be reduced and there would be a lot of pressure. He admitted that the allure of playing for a big club was what made him accept the Chelsea deal.
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Ugochukwu has serious competition at Chelsea, with Caicedo and Romeo Lavia ahead of him in the pecking order. He has played only seven minutes in the Premier League this season. Born to Nigerian parents in France, Ugochukwu currently plays for the French youth teams.