Galatasaray have announced the signing of Lesley Ugochukwu on a loan deal from Burnley, with an option to buy. The Turkish club confirmed a loan fee of €3.5 million, with the option to make the transfer permanent for a fee exceeding €25 million dependent on appearances. Ugochukwu will earn a net salary of €2.65 million per year at Galatasaray.
The 22-year-old French youth international joins Galatasaray after a relatively short spell in the Premier League, having moved to England three seasons ago. He initially signed for Chelsea for a reported fee of close to €30 million, but struggled to establish himself as a regular starter during his time at Stamford Bridge. He was subsequently loaned to Southampton for the 2024-2025 season, where he made 31 appearances in all competitions.
Burnley acquired Ugochukwu from Chelsea last summer for a similar fee to the one they received from Galatasaray, approximately €30 million. He featured prominently for the Clarets last season, playing 38 matches across all competitions, but was unable to prevent their relegation to the Championship, finishing 19th in the Premier League. The move to Galatasaray offers Ugochukwu the opportunity to play regular football and potentially showcase his abilities on a different stage.
Ugochukwu began his career at Rennes, progressing through their youth academy before making his first-team debut. He is a defensive midfielder known for his tackling and passing range. At Galatasaray, he will wear the number 18 shirt, which he has not previously worn during his professional career. This transfer provides Galatasaray with a much-needed reinforcement in midfield as they look to compete domestically and in European competitions, while offering Ugochukwu a fresh start after a challenging period in England.
