Top European teams are lined up to recruit a new defender, with 22-year-old French centre-back Castello Lukeba at the centre. Clubs across England are vying for the highly regarded RB Leipzig defender, with Chelsea now leading the winter race, according to sources close to the agency business.
However, they are not alone; Liverpool, Manchester United, and even Newcastle United are keeping careful tabs on Lukeba, proving how popular he has become. Lukeba began his professional career with Olympique Lyonnais before joining Leipzig in 2023. Since then, he has established himself as a consistent starter in the Bundesliga.
His profile as a physically tough, ball-playing centre-back with athleticism is particularly enticing. Leipzig places a great value on him, and his current deal apparently extends until 2029. This season, the defender has appeared 12 times for RB Leipzig. Lukeba’s contract originally had a €90 million release clause, which drove away many potential suitors.
Chelsea favourites to sign Castello Lukeba in January
According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea is leading the winter race to sign him next month, ahead of Liverpool, who are also interested in the Frenchman. Lukeba, who has started virtually every game for Leipzig this season, is presently the club’s best-performing player in the Bundesliga, trailing just David Raum.
The 22-year-old’s contract has a release clause that will be reduced to about £70 million in the summer, but CaughtOffside reports that Leipzig may be prepared to sell Lukeba to Chelsea for considerably less, £53 million. Lukeba, strangely, was strongly suggested to Manchester United by an unidentified recruiting executive in 2023, according to Football Insider, who described him as a ‘generational’ prospect.
Chelsea will be missing Levi Colwill until midway through next year due to an ACL injury sustained in pre-season, although Chalobah and Wesley Fofana made significant contributions against Arsenal. Some feel the pair is one of England’s greatest centre-back combinations right now, so the need for another defender isn’t as pressing as it was in October.
