A fuel injector, in particular for direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, having an actuator for actuating a valve needle, the valve needle having on one injection end a valve-closure member which forms a sealing seat together with a valve-seat surface formed on a valve-seat member. Fuel channels are provided in a valve needle guide which is designed in one piece with or is connected to the valve-seat member and they open into a swirl chamber. The number of fuel channels is such that a turbulent flow produced in the swirl chamber is homogeneous in a circumferential direction.