Since Christopher Nkunku’s arrival from RB Leipzig in 2023, his performance has been underwhelming. It’s not often I find myself agreeing with Troy Deeney, but this time he’s on point.
ESPN commentator Steve Nicol also chimed in, saying, “Christopher Nkunku was absolutely and utterly invisible. In fact, he’s been invisible since he went to Chelsea. At least Pedro Neto was running around and looked interested.”
We have to face facts—Nkunku has missed the mark on the expectations that greeted him at the start. The excitement was palpable among fans, and spending £52 million seemed justified. So, why hasn’t the move worked out?
Let’s start with what’s been happening lately and work backwards from there.
In January, Nkunku expressed his desire to leave. He’s itching for more than just a role in cup games, and at 27, with ambitions to rejoin the national team, who can blame him? He’s remained professional, causing no fuss, just expressing a genuine need to move on for his career’s sake. His dedication in training has never wavered.
His switch seemed imminent in January, but a high price tag foiled the plan. Chelsea was willing to sell, but they held out for a price they deemed fair, so the transfer fell apart.
Now, you have a player who really thought he was on his way out, and that’s hardly a recipe for success. Nkunku’s performance suggests he’s mentally checked out, just biding his time until the summer window opens. Can you really fault him for it?
While it’s understandable that his mind might be elsewhere, my advice would still be to dig deep, carry on through the season, and put his talent on display for potential new clubs. It is a tricky scenario, but playing well would boost his case for a move.
Injuries in the squad have given him more game time than he’d otherwise have seen. Without them, he might have been spending his days on the bench, so perhaps this all wouldn’t be as significant. A team can’t afford to have players that aren’t pulling their weight, yet that’s the situation with Nkunku.
Is he inherently a poor player? Not at all. Some players just need to be viewed as integral components of the team, playing in their ideal position. Nkunku has never had that at Chelsea—often played out of position just to cover gaps. It’s been a bit unfair to him, really.
Tasked with playing up front or off to the left, he hasn’t shined. His best performances come from being in the number 10 role, but that’s currently occupied by Cole Palmer.
That’s not to say he shouldn’t face some scrutiny. As a professional, his performances haven’t met the mark, and Chelsea has every right to feel let down. He hasn’t delivered, regardless of the circumstances.
Yet, I can’t help but feel sorry for him, given the situation. His transfer hasn’t been managed well, and at this point, it would be best for all parties if Chelsea allowed him to move without fussing over extracting every last penny.
