Lesley Ugochukwu, a professional football player, was born in Rennes, France, on March 26, 2004. Ugochukwu is a phenomenal player who demonstrated outstanding physical traits, great tactical sense, great awareness, and a very accomplished passing range following the defensive midfielder position on the pitch.
Ugochukwu developed through the youth program at Stade Rennais and signed with Chelsea in 2023, and then was loaned to Southampton for the 2024-25 Premier League season, where he acquired some helpful first-team playing time. As of August 2025, Ugochukwu is licensed to Burnley FC and is working to get some regular playing time and a new start in that part of his Premier League journey.
This profile on the 96.com app will track and document every angle of Lesley Ugochukwu’s professional career, including verified stats, signs of performance, and information on his latest move to Burnley FC.
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Chimuanya Lesley Ugochukwu |
| Date of Birth | 26 March 2004 |
| Age (as of Aug 2025) | 21 years |
| Birthplace | Rennes, France |
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Weight | Approx. 84 kg |
| Position | Defensive Midfielder |
| Current Club | Burnley FC |
| Previous Clubs | Rennes, Chelsea, Southampton (loan) |
| Nationality | French |
| Jersey Number | TBD |
Early Life & Physical Profile: Lesley Ugochukwu
Ugochukwu’s desire to play the game started off at Stade Rennais as he was accepted into the academy at the age of 7. Football is a part of his family, including his uncle, who is a Cameroon international player named Onyekachi Apam. At 1.90m, he is an explosive athlete and has both physical and technical attributes which will help him be effective and consistent in this area of the pitch. In terms of physical ability, for example, Ugochukwu displays the ability to tackle, apply pressure in aerial duels, and read the game, which shows why he was successful enough to join the senior squad at Rennes at the very young age of 17 years of age. Further, Ugochukwu is always composed in a match situation, and that will be of great assistance to him throughout his career to play at a successful level.
Club Career: Lesley Ugochukwu
Lesley Ugochukwu began his journey in football in Stade Rennais youth academy at 7 years old, and his family history in football is also significant – he is the nephew of former Cameroon international Onyekachi Apam. Ugochukwu is not only 1.90 meters tall, bringing elite physical characteristics and technical capacity to football, but his physical characteristics also provide a reliable presence in the central midfield. His tackling strength, ability to challenge for aerial balls, and passing vision were seen early on, earning him a senior debut for Rennes at 17 years old. Composure in situations during matches is a quality of Ugochukwu’s that continues to help him.
Transfer & Contract Details: Lesley Ugochukwu
Lesley Ugochukwu’s permanent transfer to Burnley FC was confirmed. The Burnley FC and Lesley Ugochukwu deal was approved by the Premier League. Ugochukwu was released from his loan spell at Southampton FC after completing his UIF medical exams, and the transfer fee was reported by reputable sources, including Fabrizio Romano and BBC Sport, as being around £23 million. Ugochukwu negotiated a permanent contract with a four-year deal with Burnley FC until at least June 2029. The deal included the permanent transfer of Armando Broja from Chelsea. Lesley Ugochukwu’s transfer represents Chelsea’s new policy to transfer above-average young players who require more first-team football than they receive. This is also representative of Burnley’s desire to build a competitive Premier League squad and an established midfield by using the 2025-26 season’s established talent pool.
Salary & Net Worth: Lesley Ugochukwu
Lesley Ugochukwu was reported to make between £2.5 million per annum or approximately £215,000 per month with Chelsea. With Burnley FC, the reported pay structure for a key signing will be around £45K-50K per week, which is also in line with Burnley’s pay structure. As of August 2025, Ugochukwu’s net worth was estimated at £2 million prior to and has begun to increase from transfer fees, progression contracts and signing bonuses from his short career. Ugochukwu’s projected success and more game time at Burnley FC will only add to his increasing worth, and if Ugochukwu receive endorsement deals, Ugochukwu’s worth will only increase over the next three seasons.
You can visit the 96 official website for more updates related to Burnley FC season tickets.
2024–25 Season Performance: Lesley Ugochukwu
On loan at Southampton, Lesley Ugochukwu played 26 games in the Premier League (22 starts), 1 goal and two assists. Ugochukwu appeared in more domestic cup competitions.
Even though Southampton finished last and was relegated, Ugochukwu was arguably one of the more consistent players within the overall Southampton setup. He had more than 80% pass accuracy, one in five headed duels won, and was one of the more progressive passers in Southampton’s midfield (most notably). These strong individual performances regained interest in the Premier League, which aided him in his eventual transfer to Burnley.
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International Career: Lesley Ugochukwu
Leslye Ugochukwu has played for France at youth domestic competitions (U16, U17, U19, U21) and made the youth squad for the Euro 2025 UEFA U21 European Championship after earning the nod after a solid stint at Burnley and maintaining the right temperament in the midfield.
However, he must make his senior debut while the French football federation (FFF) watches closely. Ugochukwu could be on the radar for a call-up if he performs well for Burnley. Ugochukwu is competing for a spot on the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup when the Les Blues regulars are planning their next tournament.
Playing Style & Legacy: Lesley Ugochukwu
Ugochukwu is an attacking ball-winning midfielder who has a pro tussling balance between technical ability, physicality, and tactical sense. He’s confident in the midfield to intercept and win the ball off of opposition players, cover centrally at the base of the midfield, and circulate the possession. The 21-year-old brings versatility in the double pivot or single anchor with a solid size for a defensive midfield role. A nuisance for opposing teams in aerial duels or second balls, Ugochukwu maintains good poise under pressure with the ball.
Concerning offensive contribution, although Ugochukwu is still developing his forward play, his tactical awareness, instinctive defending, and written quality as a leader on the pitch offer an individual who would be the crucial piece of any midfield. Ugochukwu is just 21 and will have the chance to contribute to Burnley’s efforts to rebuild after relegation from the Premier League.
Future Outlook: Lesley Ugochukwu
For Lesley Ugochukwu, signing with Burnley represents a turning point in his career. Ugochukwu signed a four-year contract and should have the central-midfield match time to display the ability that Chelsea thought they were signing him for.
Reports suggest that Burnley will look to build a midfield around Ugochukwu as they seek to establish themselves as a middle-table side in the Premier League. If Ugochukwu can remain fit and consistent, he will be presented with an immediate opportunity to establish himself as a star in the Premier League and attract further call-ups from the French national team.
