Lesley Ugochukwu is reportedly close to obtaining a Nigerian passport, a development that could pave the way for the Galatasaray midfielder to represent the Super Eagles at senior international level.
Sports journalist Ojora Babatunde disclosed the update in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, adding to growing speculation that Ugochukwu could be on course to play for Nigeria in the near future.
Born in France to Nigerian parents, Ugochukwu has represented France at youth level, featuring for the U19, U20 and U21 teams. However, he is yet to make a senior appearance for Les Bleus, leaving the door open for a nationality switch under FIFA regulations.
The midfielder has never hidden his Nigerian roots and has regularly visited the country during his holidays. Recently, he featured alongside Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho in a charity football match held in Imo State, further fueling speculation over his interest in representing Nigeria.
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Ugochukwu recently completed a loan move to Turkish champions Galatasaray, where he will link up with Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen for the 2026/27 campaign.
Before arriving in Istanbul, the former Chelsea midfielder enjoyed an impressive season at Burnley, making 38 appearances across all competitions while contributing three goals and one assist as he continued his development with regular first-team football.
Widely regarded as one of France’s brightest young midfield prospects, Ugochukwu progressed through the academy ranks at Rennes before making his senior debut at just 17 years old. His performances earned him a move to Chelsea after making 60 first-team appearances for the Ligue 1 side.
Although opportunities were limited during his first season at Stamford Bridge, he gained valuable experience before joining Southampton on loan. Despite the Saints’ relegation, Ugochukwu impressed with a series of mature displays, leading to a permanent move to Burnley, where he established himself as a key player.
Should his nationality switch be completed, Ugochukwu would provide a significant boost to Nigeria’s midfield options, adding youth, quality and top-level experience to the Super Eagles as they continue to build for the future.
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