 Ugochukwu warming up forChelsea in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Chimuanya Lesley Ugochukwu[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (2004-03-26)26 March 2004 (age 21)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Rennes, France | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Central midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Burnley | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2011 | ASPTT Rennes | ||
| 2011–2012 | Cercle Paul Bert | ||
| 2012–2021 | Rennes | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020 | Rennes II | 5 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Rennes | 47 | (1) |
| 2023–2025 | Chelsea | 12 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | →Southampton (loan) | 26 | (1) |
| 2025– | Burnley | 11 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2022 | France U18 | 9 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | France U19 | 9 | (2) |
| 2024 | France U20 | 1 | (0) |
| 2023– | France U21 | 10 | (0) |
| 2024 | France Olympic | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10:31, 23 November 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10:08, 19 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Chimuanya Lesley Ugochukwu (// ⓘ; born 26 March 2004) is a French professionalfootballer who plays as acentral midfielder forPremier League clubBurnley.
Ugochukwu made his professional debut forRennes on 25 April 2021, replacingSteven Nzonzi in a 5–1Ligue 1 win againstDijon.[4]
On 1 August 2023, Ugochukwu signed forChelsea 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 asubstitute, in a 1–1 draw againstLiverpool in thePremier League.[7]
On 16 August 2024, Ugochukwu joined English sideSouthampton on a season-long loan.[8] He made his debut for the club on 28 August 2024 in a 5–3 away victory againstCardiff City in theEFL Cup.[9] On 19 April 2025, he scored his first goal for the club in stoppage time in a 1–1 draw withWest Ham United, which was Ugochukwu's first Premier League goal.[10]
On 6 August 2025, Ugochukwu signed a five-year contract with fellow English sideBurnley.[11] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 defeat toAston Villa on 5 October 2025.[12]
In June 2024, he took part in theMaurice Revello Tournament with France.[13]
Born in France, Ugochukwu is ofIgbo Nigerian descent and holdsdual nationality.[14][15] Ugochukwu is the nephew of former Rennes and Nigerian centre-backOnyekachi Apam.[16]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| 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[17] | Premier League | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |
| Southampton (loan) | 2024–25[18] | Premier League | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 31 | 1 | |
| Burnley | 2025–26[19] | Premier League | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 12 | 2 | |
| Career total | 96 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 118 | 4 | ||
