Christopher Nkunku set for Chelsea debut: Contract, transfer fee, shirt number, position for new Blues star

Christopher Nkunku could be about to make his long-awaited Premier League debut for Chelsea after months on the sidelines with injury.

The 25-year-old was the first signing of the Mauricio Pochettino era when he completed a transfer from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig prior to the start of 2023/24.

However, the France international suffered a knee injury in a preseason match against Borussia Dortmund and surgery was required to repair the damage. That meant fans have had to wait to see the 26-year-old in competitive action for the club.

Nkunku will be part of the matchday squad for the game against Sheffield United on December 16, meaning that wait could at last be over.

Here are some of the key details to know about the star tasked with solving some of Chelsea's goalscoring problems.

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Chelsea have spent eye-watering sums since Todd Boehly took control of the club in May 2022, setting records in the 2022/23 summer and winter transfer windows.

The estimated £240m/$307m spent by Thomas Tuchel last summer broke the previous overall Premier League record for a single transfer window. with Graham Potter's £281m/$360m January splurge breaking more new ground.

Pochettino's first signing, Nkunku, commanded a fee of £52m/$66.4m, as per reports from BBC Sport.

By the end of the previous transfer window, Chelsea had spent a further £350m/$445m, taking the club's spending in the Boehly era beyond £1 billion.

Chelsea set out their commitment to Nkunku, with a six-year contract agreed up until the end of the 2027/28 season.

"I am incredibly happy to be joining Chelsea", Nkunku said in his first interview with the club.

"A big effort was made to bring me to the club and I'm looking forward