By India Today Sports Desk: Chelsea, on 20th June, Tuesday has confirmed the signing of Christopher Nkunku from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig on a six-year contract ahead of the 2022/23 season.
English media reported last October that Chelsea were ready to pay Nkunku's release clause of â¬60m (ã51.3m) to acquire him from Leipzig and now the deal has been confirmed by the Blues on their website.
Nkunku is the latest big signing made by Chelsea since Todd Boehly's consortium took over. The Frenchman is the first official signing made by the Blues this summer.
The 25-year-old is a graduate of the famed French national football academy at Clairefontaine and started his professional career at Paris Saint-Germain. He made 78 first-team appearances for PSG and was involved in three Ligue 1 title wins before he departed for the Bundesliga in 2019.
In his four-year stint at Leipzig, Nkunku scored 47 goals and set up 43 assists in the Bundesliga during his time at the club and also helped Leipzig win the DFB Pokal twice and finish third in the league this year.
Speaking to Chelsea's website, Nkunku said that he was incredibly happy joining the Blues and said the club made a big effort in bringing him to London. The 25-year-old said he is very excited about the challenge and is ready to play in the Premier League.
"I am incredibly happy to be joining Chelsea," said Nkunku. "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," said Nkunku.