Lesley Ugochukwu, born on March 26th, 2004, is a French professional midfielder who currently plays for Premier League club Chelsea after joining them from French club Rennes last summer. Being a graduate of Stade Rennes Youth Academy, the player has played his first-ever senior match for his boyhood club and is also known as the nephew of former Rennes and Nigeria center-back Onyekachi Apam.
Known for his speed, physicality, and agility, Ugochukwu is a bright young talent aspiring to do well in his career, and his recent big move to the Premier League side could be a beneficial pathway for the French starlet.
This article delves into the key aspects of the French talent’s life, exploring his early years, family background, net worth, career, and more.
| Birth Place | Rennes, France |
| Father’s Name | Mr. Ugochukwu |
| Mother’s Name | Mrs. Ugochukwu |
| Net Worth | $1 million (as of July 2024) |
| Age | 20 |
| Birthday | 26 March 2004 |
| Nationality | Nigerian, French |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Senior Clubs | Stade Rennais FC, Chelsea FC |
| Achievements | NA |
| Girlfriend | NA |
| Children | NA |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
Lesley Ugochukwu | Early Life and Family
Lesley Ugochukwu was born in the city of Rennes, France, on March 26, 2004, to Nigerian-origin parents. He is the eldest of the three children of his parents and his bond with his little brother and sister has been good. His parents as well as his uncle share a big responsibility for supporting and guiding the young player in his football career and the player feels as if he owes a lot to them.
Identifying as a native of Rennes, Lesley Ugochukwu was raised in the city and signed up with his hometown club Stade Rennes Youth Academy in his early years. Following rigorous training and development in the youth academy, the player earned a spot in the Rennes U19 team in 2020. In the same year, Ugochukwu’s outstanding performances earned him a promotion to the Rennes B team. He played for the side throughout the following season in the French Ligue 2 before being promoted to the Rennes First team in the summer of 2021.
Lesley Ugochukwu has also played through the youth levels of the France national team despite having dual nationality of both France and Nigeria. Playing through the U18, U19, and U21 France National Youth teams, the player managed to play impressively well and has impressed many fans around the world.
Lesley Ugochukwu | Club Career
Stade Rennes
After getting promoted to the first team of his hometown club Stade Rennes, in the summer of 2021, Ugochukwu played for them for the next two seasons, racking up impressive numbers. He made his debut on April 25, 2021, subbing in for Steven Nzonzi in a 5-1 win against Dijon in Ligue 1. His consistent performances throughout his tenure at the French club invited many European clubs to make a bid for him, including the likes of PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester United. In the end, Chelsea under Toed Bohly‘s ownership signed the player last summer.
Chelsea
After signing for Chelsea on a 7-year long-term contract with an additional 1-year extension option on August 1, 2023, for a reported transfer fee of €27.00 million, Lesley Ugochukwu made his Chelsea debut in the Premier League, coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 draw against Liverpool on August 13, 2023. Since then, the player has not stopped working hard for his dreams and has been a vital part of Mauricio Pochettino’s team, coming on as a substitute and providing important and consistent quality minutes for his team.
Lesley Ugochukwu | International Career
On the international stage, even though the player has represented France’s youth squads, he is still waiting for his chance to make it to the senior national team, despite his impressive performances in 25 youth team appearances. With the option to represent either France or Nigeria due to his dual nationality, Ugochukwu is on the verge of earning a call-up to the senior national team. His exceptional talent and quality make him deserving of this opportunity.
Lesley Ugochukwu | Sponsors and Endorsement
Although Ugochukwu’s sponsors and endorsements have not been confirmed by any sources, the Chelsea midfielder’s boot sponsors are pointed out to be the American men’s sportswear company Nike, as suggested by some reports. Though the midfielder’s sponsors are not well known, it emphasizes the fact that the player is more focused on his career in the sport than on advertising brands around the world.
Lesley Ugochukwu | Philanthropic Activities
Although Lesley Ugochukwu’s involvement in philanthropic activities is not known yet, the player will surely be participating in charities and helping the poor and underprivileged after his career grows and he matures more.
Lesley Ugochukwu | In Popular Culture
Despite being of such a young age, Ugochukwu has been quite popular with fans all around the world. The player burst into the scenes for the fans and team in the whole world when UEFA included him in the list of 40 promising talents who are destined to be future greats and have great potential with the likes of Destiny Udogie, Moises Caicedo, David Datro Fofana, Alejandro Garnacho, and others.
Lesley Ugochukwu | Records and statistics
After his good and impressive seasons with Rennes, the player has been performing well this season since Chelsea signed him last summer, and Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino has been providing him with his fair share of opportunities due to the squad’s injury issues and poor performances on the pitch.
Ugochukwu has featured in 13 matches till now this season, has made the most of all those given opportunities, and is on the right path to becoming a permanent player for his club despite being of such a young age. On the international level, although the player has not yet been able to play for either France or Nigeria’s national team, his immense growth in the past few months is surely going to get him a callup soon in the upcoming months.
| Teams | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Stade Rennais FC | 60 | 1 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| France Youth team | 25 | 3 | 1 |
Lesley Ugochukwu | Net Worth
Lesley Ugochukwu had an estimated worth of around $1 million as of July 2023, but the number is certain to be much higher now considering the player has recently signed a 7-year contract with Chelsea on wages of around £2,600,000 per year and his wages are certain to be increased much more considering his huge future potential and growth.
Lesley Ugochukwu | Cars and Tattoos
Although Leslay’s taste in cars and their availability are not known, he was rumored to be seen driving a modest car resembling a Mini Cooper. If that is the case, the player certainly likes a simplistic approach off the pitch in his daily life and wants to focus more on improving himself on the pitch rather than collecting fancy cars for personal enjoyment and showoff. Unlike many players in the modern era, Ugochukwu is known for not having tattoos on any part of his body. His choice to abstain from tattoos uniquely stands out in a sport where body art has become quite common in recent times. The player has opted to focus more on his gameplay than on inking his body.
FAQs
| Q. What type of midfielder is Lesley Ugochukwu? |
| Ans. Central midfielder |
| Q. Where was Lesley Ugochukwu born? |
| Ans. Rennes, France |
| Q. Where is Lesley Ugochukwu’s parents from? |
| Ans. His parents hail from Nigeria before moving to France. |
| Q. Is Lesley Ugochukwu good? |
| Ans. Ugochukwu is a strong and physical central midfielder. |
| Q. What is the height of Lesley Ugochukwu? |
| Ans. 1.9 m |
