Chelsea announce signing of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig

French striker to join for a reported £52 million fee in what looks set to be busy summer in transfer market for Premier League club

Christopher Nkunku scored 70 goals in 172 games for RB Leipzig. AFP

Chelsea have made striker Christopher Nkunku their first signing of the summer transfer window with the Frenchman arriving from RB Leipzig on a six-year contract.

Nkunku, 26, has been capped 10 times by his country but missed last year's World Cup in Qatar due to injury. His move to the Premier League club was announced Tuesday in a deal reported to be worth £52 million.

He played 172 games for Leipzig, scoring 70 goals – including 35 in all competitions during the 2021/22 campaign and was named Bundesliga Player of the Season and German PFA Player of the Season.

Nkunku scored 23 goals in 36 games last season – including 16 in the Bundesliga as he finished joint-top scorer alongside Niclas Fullkrug of Werder Bremen – to help Leipzig finish third in the table, five points behind champions Bayern Munich.

He becomes the first major arrival at Stamford Bridge since Mauricio Pochettino was confirmed as the club's new manager.

“I am incredibly happy to be joining Chelsea,” Nkunku told the club's website. “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.”

Nkunku is a graduate of the French national football academy at Clairefontaine and started his professional career at Paris Saint-Germain. He made 78 appearances for PSG, scoring 11 goals, before moving to Leipzig in 2019.

He will officially become a Chelsea player on July 1.

In what is promising to be a busy summer of transfer activity at Stamford Bridge, four Chelsea players are poised for moves to join Saudi Pro League clubs.

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is in advanced talks to join Al Ahli, defender Kalidou Koulibaly is wanted by Al Hilal, midfielder N'Golo Kante looks set to join Karim Benzema at Al Ittihad, while Cristiano Ronaldo's club Al Nassr are close to an agreement to sign winger Hakim Ziyech.

Another Chelsea forward, Kai Havertz, is wanted by London rivals Arsenal who have had a £50 million bid turned down but are reported to be making an improved £60 million offer, while Manchester United have made Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount one of their key targets this summer.

Chelsea ratings for 2022/23 season

CHELSEA 2022/23 SEASON RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 6. After starting the season on the bench, he made the No 1 jersey his own with an excellent run of form. Performances tailed off as Chelsea's season unravelled, and while Kepa didn't do much wrong, he hardly saved his team either. Getty.

Edouard Mendy - 5. A shaky start to the season saw Mendy dropped to the bench, while a long-term shoulder injury prevented the Senegalese stopper from trying to reclaim his place. Returned to the squad in April and hardly to blame for Chelsea's demise. Getty

Trevoh Chalobah - 6. Effort and dedication can't be faulted but the Academy graduate looked out of his depth at times. Should be used as a reliable squad player next season. Getty

Kalidou Koulibaly - 5. The Senegalese defender veered from commanding to comical - sometimes in the same game. Whether this was a first-season adjustment period or if Koulibaly is on the decline, it will be interesting to see if we get to find out or if the former Napoli star will depart. Getty

Benoit Badiashile - 7. The 22-year-old January signing looked good in the appearances he was afforded, and should be given a much bigger role next season. Reuters

Wesley Fofana - 5. Arrived with a massive price tag and to huge excitement last summer, the French defender's season was one blighted by injury. When Fofana returned to the team, he looked off the pace and struggled for form. One of many players who should benefit from a reset ahead of the new season. Getty

Thiago Silva - 7. At 39 years old, the Brazilian is still Chelsea's best central defender. Called upon to play more games than was probably initially planned as the season unravelled. Still classy but it became increasingly clear he's now best in the middle of a back three. Will be a huge leader next season as Chelsea attempt to pick up the pieces. Getty

Marc Cucurella - 3. The poster boy for Chelsea's reckless and thoughtless transfer strategy. The Spanish fullback can't be accused of a lack of effort but looked well short of the £60m the Blues paid Brighton for his services. Expected to leave in a cut-price deal this summer. Reuters

Ben Chilwell - 6. A season severely disrupted by injury, Chilwell's various absences hit Chelsea hard. Ended the season with another injury, and will hope to fully recover to hit the ground running after the summer. AFP

Lewis Hall - 7. The youngster's emergence was both a promising sign for Chelsea's future and symbolic of a disastrous transfer policy that saw Cucurella signed for £60m when Hall proved to be more than capable at left-back. Full of energy and enthusiasm and impactful going forward. Work to do defensively but he's only 18. Getty

Reece James - 6. Limited to just 24 appearances in all competitions, James' worrying injury record extended into another season. No coincidence that Chelsea's alarming slump began when he was first sidelined. Getty

Cesar Azpilicueta - 5. As committed and professional as ever but respectfully, the captain's legs went this season. Sustained a nasty concussion which did not help his cause. If he remains beyond the summer, the Spaniard should be used very much as a dressing room influence. Reuters

Enzo Fernandez - 7. The Argentine midfielder arrived in January fresh off a World Cup triumph and with a reputation as one of the brightest stars in world football. Showed moments of quality during a difficult spell for Chelsea, and will be a major player next season. Reuters

N'Golo Kante - 6. Another important player hit by injury for much of the season, the French midfielder's quality and energy were sorely missed. Typically lively when he made his return to the team. His future needs to be resolved. Getty

Denis Zakaria - 5. On loan from Juventus, the Swiss midfielder was not really part of any of the three managers' plans this season, although did OK when given games. EPA

Conor Gallagher - 7. Endured a disastrous start to the season but improved as the campaign wore on when he was given more game time. Provided plenty of energy and was a greater goal threat than many of Chelsea's forward players. With the likes of Kante and Kovacic - and even Mount - potentially leaving, Gallagher could have a key role next season. EPA

Mateo Kovacic - 6. The Croatian has been superb throughout his Chelsea career but there was a noticeable drop off this season. Still helped the Blues control possession for most games but the cut and thrust that make Kovacic such an influential midfielder were not quite at the same level. Big question marks about his future. EPA

Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 5. Very much a squad player who struggled to make his mark this season. The Academy graduate is reportedly the subject of interest from AC Milan and could be part of the expected mass exodus. AFP

Carney Chukwuemeka - 6. The teenager signed from Aston Villa last summer was limited in his appearances but looks an exciting talent. AFP

Mason Mount - 4. Having emerged as arguably Chelsea's best player the previous two seasons, this was a significant setback. Injuries played a part but three goals in 35 appearances was hugely disappointing. Confidence looked shot by the time his campaign ended prematurely. Despite the poor season, Chelsea will hope to resolve his future to prevent a potentially damaging move to a rival. PA

Kai Havertz - 6. Chelsea's leading goalscorer this season but with nine in all competitions, that isn't saying much. The German is an outrageously talented player but was again the victim of Chelsea's failure to sign a recognised striker. Will the next manager finally play Havertz at No 10 before it's too late and he leaves? Reuters

Mykhaylo Mudryk - 5. After Chelsea beat Arsenal to the Ukrainian's signature and he enjoyed a blistering cameo, the hype only increased. That's about as good as it got for Mudryk in his first half season. Blessed with extreme pace but still a raw talent, Mudryk should kick on next season. Getty

Christian Pulisic - 4. A knee injury hardly helped but the American was ineffective before and after. A single goal in 29 appearances is nowhere near good enough. Could be another to exit Stamford Bridge this summer. AFP

Raheem Sterling - 4. Signed as an oven-ready solution to help solve Chelsea's goalscoring woes, Sterling was a shadow of the prolific Manchester City player. Scored nine goals in 37 appearances and generally posed little threat when on the ball. Can still be an important player next season. Getty

Noni Madueke - 7. Part of the mad January transfer splurge, Madueke is another exciting young talent who showed glimpses of his potential. Should contribute plenty more next season. PA

Hakim Ziyech - 5. Became a peripheral player and almost left on loan to PSG in January, only for the classic fax machine mishap to occur. The Moroccan, who was superb at the World Cup, is a talented player but it's not quite happened at Chelsea. Surely on the move. PA

Joao Felix - 8. A rare bright spark in a bleak season for Chelsea, despite getting sent off on his debut and his loan fee hardly making financial sense. It was a scandal that Felix wasn't a regular starter during Lampard's brief, and disastrous, spell in charge as the Portuguese was the one attacking player who consistently created chances and scored a few goals. Unlikely to remain beyond this season. AFP

Armando Broja - 5. The Academy graduate loooked like he could have been a useful squad option but his season was cut short after a cruciate injury during a mid-season friendly in Abu Dhabi. Getty

David Datro Fofana - 6. A lively debut, after arriving in January, raised hopes Chelsea might have a exciting new striker on their hands. Except he barely played after that. Looks a talent, though. PA

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 2. A return of three goals in 22 appearances marked a miserable return to the Premier League for the former Arsenal captain. Shot of confidence and sharpness, Aubameyang appears destined for the exit. EPA

Thomas Tuchel - 6. Oversaw the opening weeks of the season when Chelsea struggled for form. Still, his exit was an enormous shock and the season continued to unravel from there. Has since pitched up at Bayern Munich and won the Budesliga. EPA

Graham Potter - 3. Perhaps it was the wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time, but Potter hardly helped his cause either. After an encouraging start, quickly looked out of his depth when results went south, and was sacked after winning just 12 of his 31 games in charge. Reuters

Frank Lampard - 1. Granted, he inherited a mess but the return of Chelsea's greatest player to the dugout failed to inspire a turnaround. Lost his first six matches in interim charge, his team selection was muddled, and he admitted himself he didn't know how or where to play Joao Felix, so he didn't. Which is unforgivable. Where Lampard goes from here is anyone's guess. Getty