Borussia Dortmund have confirmed they are initiating talks with Chelsea in a bid to sign defender Aaron Anselmino on a permanent deal. The 20-year-old Argentine, currently on loan at the Bundesliga club, has forced his way into the starting lineup after overcoming injury.
From Injury Setback to Breakthrough Goal
Anselmino's move to European football has been a story of resilience. Chelsea signed him from Boca Juniors for £15 million in the summer of 2024, before his initial loan back to Argentina was cut short. He failed to make a Premier League appearance for the Blues last season, featuring only briefly in the Club World Cup and a pre-season friendly.
His loan switch to Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2025 began inauspiciously. The highly-rated centre-back suffered a muscular injury after his debut, which ruled him out of action for almost two months. However, he has since fought his way back into the team and marked his progress by scoring his first goal for Dortmund in last weekend's 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
Dortmund's Desire to Secure a Permanent Deal
The current loan agreement does not include an option for Dortmund to buy the player. Despite this, the German club's sporting director, Sebastian Kehl, has publicly stated their intention to negotiate a full transfer with Chelsea.
"I will have to pick up the phone in the next few days and will certainly call them," Kehl said following the win over Leverkusen. "We hope that Aaron will stay on, of course. We have a very good connection with Chelsea."
Dortmund's head coach, Niko Kovac, has also been effusive in his praise for the young defender's attitude and ability. "He fights with crusader spirit," Kovac told Sky. "When things get tight, there’s no nonsense with him. He breaks through. And that’s something you need at this level. You need defenders who love defending. The boy does that excellently."
Chelsea's View and Previous Business
Chelsea and Dortmund have a recent history of transfer dealings, most notably the sale of Carney Chukwuemeka to the German side after a successful loan spell. While Anselmino is yet to play competitively for Chelsea, former manager Enzo Maresca previously highlighted his potential.
"He’s another talent, another good player," Maresca said last season. "Now the most important thing is that he arrives here and he adapts himself... Then we need to give him time, because when you come from the other part of the world, you need to adapt... If he’s here it’s because we think he’s a good player and he can help us."
The coming weeks will determine whether Anselmino's long-term future lies at Stamford Bridge or in the Signal Iduna Park, as Dortmund formalise their interest in the promising Argentine defender.
