20 June 2023 , 09:33
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Chelsea have announced the signing of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig.
The France international, 25, has signed a six-year contract at Stamford Bridge after months of speculation. He becomes the latest signing by Chelsea since Todd Boehly's consortium completed a takeover of the two-time European champions a year ago.
Nkunku's move to Chelsea will be finalised when the international transfer window opens on July 1. The Blues have paid £52million for the prolific striker, who scored 47 goals and provided 43 assists in the Bundesliga during his four-year spell with Leipzig.
Nkunku has said: "I am incredibly happy to be joining Chelsea. A big effort was made to bring me to the club and I am looking forward to meeting my new coach and teammates and showing the Chelsea supporters what I can do on the pitch.
"Having played in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, I now want to play in the Premier League, one of the strongest leagues in the world. I am very excited for this challenge and will be proud to wear the Chelsea shirt."
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In a statement, Chelsea's co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: "Christopher has proved himself one of the standout attacking players in European football over the past two seasons and will add quality, creativity and versatility to our squad.
Nkunku won two German Cups during his time at RB Leipzig (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)What do you make of this signing? Let us know in the comments below!
"He has demonstrated his ability at the highest level with RB Leipzig and France and we look forward to him joining up with his new teammates ahead of the new season."
Nkunku started his career with Paris Saint-Germain and won three Ligue 1 titles, two French Cups, two French League Cups and two French Super Cups but was not a regular at the Parc des Princes. He joined Leipzig in the summer of 2019 to play more often.
Nkunku made a slow start to life in Germany, scoring just 12 goals during his first two seasons with Leipzig, but is now one of the most prolific strikers in Europe. He's scored 58 club goals since the start of the 2021/22 season to capture Chelsea's attention.
Nkunku's outstanding form during the 2022/23 campaign helped Leipzig finish third in the Bundesliga and retain the German Cup. He scored the opening goal in Leipzig's 2-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the final earlier this month.
It's unclear what shirt number Nkunku will wear at Chelsea. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has the No.9, although he is expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. Nkunku wore the No.18 at Leipzig, but that jersey belongs to Armando Broja.
Nkunku is Chelsea's first senior signing of this summer's transfer window. A number of players could leave Stamford Bridge over the coming weeks, including Kalidou Koulibaly, N'Golo Kante, Kai Havertz, Edouard Mendy, Romelu Lukaku and Mason Mount.