Lesley Ugochukwu: France-Nigeria midfielder joins Galatasaray on loan from Burnley

France-Nigeria defensive midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu has joined Galatasaray from Burnley on a season-long loan for a fee of €3.55m. The 22-year-old, who was born in Rennes and stands at 1.90m, moves to the Turkish Super Lig after a spell in the English Championship.

Ugochukwu arrives in Istanbul with experience in both the Premier League and Ligue 1. He has made 73 appearances in England’s top flight, scoring four goals and providing three assists, alongside 47 outings in Ligue 1 earlier in his career. Predominantly a defensive midfielder and right-footed, he offers Galatasaray a physically imposing option at the base of their midfield.

The move marks another step in a career that has taken Ugochukwu from France to England and now Turkey. He left Stade Rennais for Chelsea in August 2023 in a €27m transfer before a loan spell at Southampton in the 2024-25 season. Burnley then secured his services from Chelsea in August 2025 in a €28.7m deal, with the midfielder going on to feature across domestic league and cup competitions.

Ugochukwu has also gained experience in European competition, appearing in both the Europa League and Europa Conference League, as well as in domestic cups in France and England. His contract at Galatasaray runs until 30 June 2027, covering the duration of his loan.

The move sees Galatasaray add a midfielder with top-flight experience in three countries, with Ugochukwu now registered as a Galatasaray player for the 2026-27 campaign.