Chelsea completed the signing of French forward Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig in a deal reportedly worth £63 million ($80 million) on Tuesday.
Nkunku had previously agreed to a pre-contract with the Premier League club back in December, and now he has finalised his move to Stamford Bridge.
The 25-year-old has committed to a lucrative six-year contract with the Blues, who are undergoing a thorough squad revamp in their quest to recover from a disappointing season.
"Chelsea is delighted to announce Christopher Nkunku will join the club from RB Leipzig ahead of the 2023/24 season," a statement on the Blues' website said.
Nkunku is one of the rising stars of European football and scored 23 goals in 36 games for Leipzig last season.
He is the first major signing since Mauricio Pochettino was confirmed as Chelsea's new manager at the end of May.
"I am incredibly happy to be joining Chelsea. A big effort was made to bring me to the club," Nkunku said.
"I am looking forward to meeting my new coach and team-mates and showing the Chelsea supporters what I can do on the pitch."
Nkunku, who emerged from the renowned French national football academy at Clairefontaine, began his professional career at Paris Saint Germain, where he spent four years before transferring to RB Leipzig in 2019.
During his time with Leipzig, Nkunku made a name for himself as an influential player. His exceptional performances earned him the title of Bundesliga Player of the Season in the 2021-2022 campaign. With an impressive record of 20 goals and 15 assists in the league, he showcased his talent and versatility.
In the following season, Nkunku continued to shine, contributing an additional 23 goals to Leipzig's cause. His goals and overall impact played a significant role in helping the club secure a commendable third-place finish in the Bundesliga.
Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, Chelsea's co-sporting directors, 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 earned his France debut last year and has been capped 10 times.
He was ruled out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a leg injury.
"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," Nkunku said.
"I am very excited for this challenge and will be proud to wear the Chelsea shirt."
(With AFP inputs)
