Chelsea new boy Christopher Nkunku bizarrely hails the Blues as a ‘good project’ after £53m move from RB Leipzig, despite Todd Boehly’s transfer disaster and 11th-place finish
Christopher Nkunku has promised to ‘give everything’ for Chelsea after becoming the first signing of Mauricio Pochettino’s reign at the club earlier this week.
The forward joined from RB Leipzig for £53 million earlier this week after the two clubs pre-agreed a deal at the end of last year.
He may not be the out-and-out number nine Chelsea fans wanted, but a Blues side that scored just 38 league goals last season will surely benefit from a man that has scored 36 on his own in the past two Bundesliga campaigns.
When asked why he had chosen to join the Blues, Nkunku told the club website: ‘I think the project was good for me. It is a good project for me to develop myself as a player and a man also.
‘And this is a good city, after all, and for sure I want to improve in football and I want to win trophies and improve myself also. So I think this is a good project for me at this moment. This is a good project, for sure.’
France forward Christopher Nkunku has joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig for £53 million
The 25-year-old has scored 58 goals across all competitions in the past two seasons
Nkunku helped Leipzig capture the second trophy in their history in his final game for the club
He admitted to not knowing London beyond the stadiums he had played in with Leipzig, but will see some familiar faces at Cobham after playing with Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana for France.
The 25-year-old has played 10 times for his country and was initially included in their squad for last year’s World Cup, although he was ruled out through injury on the eve of the tournament.
On what he would bring to Chelsea next season, Nkunku said: ‘I am a hard worker. I will give everything for the club, for the fans and to help the team bring some trophies. To give the best of my football. I hope I will make them as happy as I am to be here at this club.
‘On the pitch I’m a bit quiet, but I can speak, I can shout also. But I’m very focused on the football and about winning, to do everything right, so I can say I speak with my feet. But it’s important obviously to speak to the boys on the pitch.’
The Frenchman also revealed he had not yet spoken to Pochettino, although former teammates from his time at Paris Saint-Germain assured him the manager was ‘a very good coach’.
He is the first signing of Mauricio Pochettino’s reign at the club, although the deal was initially agreed when Thomas Tuchel was in charge
Nkunku admitted having little knowledge of London, but will be familiar with teammates Wesley Fofana (left) and Benoit Badiashile (right) after playing with them for France
The forward seems destined to replace Kai Havertz up front for the Blues, with the German forward set to join Arsenal
Nkunku arrives at Chelsea after an excellent spell at Leipzig that saw score 70 goals, and 58 in the past two years across all competitions.
He was named Bundesliga player of the year in 2021/22, despite competing with the likes of Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski.
Having started his career as a central midfielder, he grew popular in Germany playing across a front four, and feels most comfortable as a number 10.
With Kai Havertz, Chelsea’s top scorer last season, set to join Arsenal this summer, Nkunku’s arrival could be key to Pochettino’s hopes of taking the Blues back into Europe.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
