Galatasaray confirm loan-to-buy for Burnley midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu worth €30m | OneFootball

Galatasaray have sealed a loan-to-buy move for Burnley midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, their first marquee addition of the summer. The club said in a statement to the Public Disclosure Platform that a temporary deal runs until the end of the 2026-27 campaign.

The package is valued at €30 million, including an initial loan fee of about €3.55 million. A €26.6 million option becomes an obligation to buy next summer if performance and appearance conditions are met.

Ugochukwu will earn a net €2.65 million per season. On completion of the permanent transfer, it would rank among the four costliest deals in the club’s history.

Manager Okan Buruk reportedly targeted the 1.90m midfielder to add physicality, defensive resilience and positional awareness in the centre. The Rennes academy graduate previously made a high-profile move to Chelsea and wants to feature in the UEFA Champions League. He also fits the Turkish Football Federation’s updated Under-23 foreign player rule, aiding domestic registration.

He arrived by private jet at Atatürk Airport’s General Aviation Terminal and was greeted by board official Abdullah Kavukcu and jubilant supporters. “When I was younger, I always dreamed of playing for massive clubs. Now, I have joined a giant club like Galatasaray. I am incredibly happy.” The 22-year-old moves to Istanbul match-fit after 38 appearances in England last season, with three goals and two assists.

Source: Turkish-Football.com