Chelsea FC and Valencia CF are closing in on an agreement for French defensive midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu (21) to spend the 2025-2026 campaign on loan at Mestalla. L’Equipe reports that the La Liga side is in talks with the Blues, currently involved in the FIFA Club World Cup where they will play Fluminense in the semi-finals, over a loan move for the 21-year-old midfielder.
Chelsea signed Ugochukwu from formative club Rennes two years ago in a €27m move. The defensive midfielder only featured 15 times for the Blues. He spent the 2024-2025 Premier League campaign at Southampton, where he played 31 games for the Saints. Ugochukwu remains tied with Chelsea over a long-term contract set to expire in 2030.
