CHELSEA RECALL ALERT: AARON ANSELMINO LEAVES BORUSSIA DORTMUND IN TEARS TO REJOIN BLUES
Aaron Anselmino bids an emotional farewell to Borussia Dortmund as Chelsea trigger a shock recall to bolster their defence.
Aaron Anselmino signed with the Premier League club on a seven-year deal for £15.6 million in August 2024. The plan was for him to spend the next season back on loan with Boca Juniors, but Chelsea called him back in January. Even then, he didn’t actually step onto the pitch for the Blues until the following summer. He finally made his debut at the 2025 Club World Cup, coming on in the final minutes of a round of 16 match against Benfica.
After having his second year-long loan cut short, Anselmino couldn’t hold back his emotions as he said goodbye to Borussia Dortmund.
Anselmino’s Teary Goodbye to Dortmund
Dortmund posted a video called “An Emotional Farewell” on social media, and it showed Anselmino in tears, hugging his teammates for the last time. He played ten games for Dortmund, scoring once and grabbing an assist. Clearly, he made a good impression during his time in Germany.
“It was an incredible six months. Thank you so much for the love you gave me from day one. I wish you all the best! Heja BVB.”
Fabio Silva, the former Wolves striker who grew close to Anselmino, replied, “Thanks for all the shared moments, dear brother! Good luck; I’m going to miss you a lot, but I’ll always remember our experiences and your friendship. Thanks for everything! Love you so much.”
Dortmund Chiefs Furious With Chelsea
Dortmund’s higher-ups are apparently livid with Chelsea. First, they’re upset about the total lack of communication—Chelsea gave them no warning at all before recalling Anselmino. On top of that, Dortmund now has just a week to find a replacement before the transfer window closes on February 2. And while the original loan deal didn’t include a buy clause, Dortmund had hoped to keep Anselmino for good.
Earlier this season, Enzo Maresca (before leaving the club) complained about Chelsea’s lack of centre-back options. Now, with Anselmino back, it’s unclear if he’ll actually get much game time at Stamford Bridge for the rest of the season.
LIAM ROSENIOR’S "DETAILED TALKS" WITH CHELSEA LEADERSHIP REVEAL AGGRESSIVE SUMMER TRANSFER STRATEGY
Liam Rosenior confirms no Chelsea players want to leave, including Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, despite UCL exit.
Liam Rosenior is currently engaged in thorough discussions with Chelsea’s leadership about their plans for the summer transfer window. Interestingly, none of the players has approached him expressing a desire to leave.
After Chelsea’s exit from the Champions League last-16 against Paris Saint-Germain, speculation swirled around Enzo Fernandez’s future, while names like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo have also been linked with moves away since Rosenior took charge in January. Ahead of their trip to Everton, Rosenior addressed questions about possible departures if the team misses out on Europe’s top competition again. He also spoke about the ongoing efforts to bring new players in.
“We're having very detailed talks about where we need to strengthen,” he said, referring to conversations with the sporting director team, headed by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. “I’ve shared my thoughts on what’s needed, and we’re mostly aligned on the approach, which is encouraging. But the priority is also handling the present properly. It’s crucial to be in a good spot now. Planning is important, but so is winning in the moment. That’s why I’m here, and I’m having positive discussions with ownership and the sporting directors about it.”
Rosenior emphasised that key players like Enzo Fernández want to remain at Chelsea. After Fernandez’s recent interview with ESPN Argentina, where he was noncommittal about his future following the heavy loss to PSG, Rosenior reached out to him personally.
“Our plans don’t hinge solely on qualifying for the Champions League; there are many variables,” Rosenior explained. “We need to make the best of the situation we’re in and stay as strong as possible. I maintain a close relationship with the players; we talk beyond football about their families and their lives. I’m particularly close with Enzo and the others. Since I arrived, no one has told me they want to leave in the summer. The focus is really on improving together as a team and figuring out what it takes to win right now.”
When asked specifically if that applies to Fernandez, Palmer, and Caicedo, Rosenior was clear: “They love it here.”
WHY ENZO FERNANDEZ REFUSES TO COMMIT TO CHELSEA’S FUTURE PROJECT
Enzo Fernandez has sparked Chelsea exit fears after refusing to commit to his future following a 2-8 defeat to PSG.
Chelsea fans barely had time to process a brutal 8-2 Champions League thrashing by PSG on Tuesday when vice-captain Enzo Fernandez stirred things up even more. ESPN Argentina asked him about his future, and instead of assurance, Fernandez left everyone guessing about whether he’d still be at Stamford Bridge next season.
His answer? “I don’t know. There are eight games left, and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup, and then we’ll see.” Not exactly what supporters needed to hear after a rough night. Honestly, Enzo, now’s probably not the best time for uncertainty.
People have been gossiping about Fernandez’s next move for a while now. Real Madrid and PSG keep cropping up as possible destinations, despite Chelsea sources insisting they won’t sell him. He’s locked into a contract until 2032, but if he pushes for an exit, who knows if that changes.
Fernandez holds a hefty price tag of £107 million; when he arrived in January 2023, it was a British record at the time. He’s backed it up this season, stacking up 12 goals, 6 assists, and playing more minutes than anyone else on the squad.
Still, Chelsea has been searching for someone who can play that No. 10 role where Fernandez has spent most of the season. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is on their wishlist, though nothing’s happened yet. Rogers, 23 and once a Manchester City academy kid, has been lighting it up at Villa lately. He signed a contract extension in November, but rumours about his future just won’t die.
Rogers is definitely on Chelsea’s radar. If Fernandez leaves this summer, and really, that’s still wide open; Rogers could be a target.
You can expect Chelsea to be busy in the market soon. They need a centre-back after missing out on Jeremy Jacquet in January. Douglas Luiz was briefly considered but wound up at Villa, so midfield is still in the mix. Plus, given their attacking troubles this season, they’ll be looking to upgrade up front too.
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