Chelsea’s Nigerian midfielder set to join Joe Aribo at Southampton

Newly-promoted English Premier League club Southampton are set to sign Lesley Ugochukwu from Chelsea on a season-long loan, Soccernet.ng reports.

Ugochukwu joined Chelsea from Ligue 1 side Stade Rennes last summer in a deal worth €27 million. The youngster was one of the many newcomers that was brought in after Todd Boehly took over as the new owner.

However, just like many other young players that have joined Chelsea in the past two years, Ugochukwu has not flourished as he has not see enough game time. Last season, he only registered 15 appearances across all competitions.

Chelsea have many options in midfield, including Enzo Fernandes, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Renato Veiga.

With the numerous options that Chelsea have in the middle of the park, it is obvious that his game time will not reduce. Hence, both parties are looking to reach a compromise.

According to a recent report from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Ugochukwu is closing in on a loan transfer to Southampton. The Saints just returned to the Premier League, and the 20-year-old midfielder will be a decent addition to their team.

The deal is expected to be sealed in the coming days if both parties agree on a fee and Ugochukwu passes his medical. If the deal goes through, Ugochukwu will likely play with Super Eagles star Joe Aribo in Southampton’s midfield.

Ugochukwu was born to Nigerian parents in France, thus making him eligible to play for any of the two countries. The midfielder currently plays for the French youth teams, but he can still switch to Nigeria because he has not played for Les Bleus.