Aaron Anselmino has returned to Chelsea (Image: Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chelsea acquired Aaron Anselmino from Boca Juniors in August for £15.6 million, and the esteemed defender was expected to remain at his formative club for the entirety of the 2024-25 season.
Chelsea have summoned promising defender Aaron Anselmino from his loan at Boca Juniors.
Anselmino, 19, transferred to the Blues for £15.6 million in August, despite interest from Manchester United, and was promptly loaned back to the Argentine club. The centre-back was scheduled to spend the entire 2024-25 season with Boca; however, following the conclusion of their league campaign in December, Anselmino has returned to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is presently contending with several injuries in his defense, notably affecting center-backs Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile. The status of Anselmino’s inclusion in Maresca’s squad or his probable loan to another club, possibly sister team Strasbourg in France, remains uncertain.
His recall liberates an international loan position for Chelsea, as per new FIFA regulations, teams are permitted to send a maximum of six players on temporary transfers abroad. Midfielder Cesare Casadei is expected to be loaned, with interest from the Italian club Monza and the Dutch team Feyenoord.
Anselmino was a consistent player for his youth club Boca during his loan period, participating in 18 matches across all competitions before being sidelined for the final five league games due to a hamstring injury. The right-footer debuted for the club in 2023 and is also capable of playing as a defensive midfielder.
Boca president and former Argentina player Juan Roman Riquelme reportedly predicted Anselmino’s imminent breakthrough at the international level. “He has made significant progress,” Riquelme stated to ESPN.
Given his development, intellect, and eagerness to learn, he is poised to become an exceptional footballer. He will be a member of the national team. He will compete against the center-backs.
Anselmino may have the opportunity to play for the Blues in next Saturday’s FA Cup third-round match against League Two team Morecambe at home. Maresca has employed many centre-back pairings this season, with Fofana, Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Axel Disasi all receiving opportunities in the Premier League.
Chelsea will visit Crystal Palace on Saturday in search of their first victory in four matches. The Blues’ title pursuit has been undermined by losses to Fulham and Ipswich Town after a draw with Everton, causing Maresca’s team to fall to fourth in the standings, 10 points off of league leaders Liverpool, having played one additional match.
