Christopher Nkunku: Chelsea’s New Star Signing
On Tuesday, Chelsea announced the signing of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig for a fee of £52m. The 25-year-old French forward is one of the few signings that could take Chelsea closer to Manchester City and the other powerhouses of the Premier League.
Background
Nkunku joined Leipzig in 2019 from Paris St-Germain after he realised he could not progress while in the shadow of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and others. Leipzig offered Nkunku regular playing time – he has averaged 42 competitive games per season over the past four years – and the chance to refine his game. At first, the Paris native played as a winger under manager Julian Nagelsmann while occasionally being employed in the number 10 role. Domenico Tedesco was the first coach who regularly fielded Nkunku as a striker and Marco Rose continued that tactic after replacing the now-Belgium manager last September.
Nkunku’s Talents
What Chelsea have acquired is a tactically versatile and technically highly proficient player who combines creativity with a drive towards goal. Nkunku may make numerous stepovers and all kinds of dummies, but he is usually focused on getting the ball into the penalty area. According to the analytics site FBref.com, Nkunku has been among the best 10 per cent of forwards in Europe’s top-five leagues in several key statistics during the past calendar year, including non-penalty goals per 90 minutes, pass completion percentage and successful take-ons.
Mauricio Pochettino’s System
Mauricio Pochettino, who will officially take over at Chelsea on 1 July, has usually preferred a tactical system with one central striker. Nkunku could well be employed in that role. With Kai Havertz expected to leave and Romelu Lukaku unlikely to return to Stamford Bridge, the Frenchman would seem to make the most sense for the position. Equally, he could also be selected on the wing with a licence to roam to the inside. He displayed his tactical versatility during the recent German Cup final, which RB Leipzig won 2-0 against Eintracht Frankfurt.
World Cup Heartache
The Frenchman has made the most of his past four years in the Bundesliga. However, while he has received praise for his performances, won two German Cup finals with Leipzig and received the trophy for the best goal scorer of the 2022-23 Bundesliga season, Nkunku has also had to deal with setbacks. He suffered a ligament tear in his knee in the days before the World Cup in Qatar and was denied the chance to represent his home country in the tournament. While Mbappe and the rest were playing in the final against Argentina, Nkunku was working towards his comeback.
A Bright Future Ahead
Having played in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, Nkunku now wants to play in the Premier League, one of the strongest in the world. He has been in the shadow of Mbappe and other stellar countrymen in recent years, but the move to England and an ambitious and financially powerful club should offer Nkunku the stage to gain more international exposure and take his game to the next level.
Conclusion
Christopher Nkunku is a highly talented player who combines creativity with a drive towards goal. He is tactically versatile and technically proficient, making him an ideal fit for Mauricio Pochettino’s system at Chelsea. After suffering a setback due to injury prior to the World Cup, Nkunku has made the most of his time in Germany and is now looking forward to taking his game to new heights in England.