Chelsea Slammed For How They've Handled Aaron Anselmino Situation

Chelsea have come under fire for their decision to recall Aaron Anselmino from his loan spell at Borussia Dortmund as the defender looks on the verge of joining sister club Strasbourg.

Anselmino, who joined Chelsea from Boca Juniors in 2024 for around £15 million, made the switch to Dortmund last summer on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old impressed in the opening months of his spell in Germany. In fact, Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl said he was planning to open talks over a permanent transfer.

“I will have to pick up the phone in the next few days and will certainly call them, said Kehl. “We hope that Aaron will stay on, of course. We have a very good connection with Chelsea.”

However, it appears Chelsea were left unimpressed by Dortmund's decision to go public with their interest. The Blues had reportedly reiterated that the highly-rated Anselmino remains part of their long-term project.

Aaron Anselmino spent just five months at Dortmund. Image credit: Getty

Anselmino was therefore recalled from his loan at Dortmund, with a video of his emotional goodbye to players and staff at the Bundesliga club going viral as he prepared to return to Stamford Bridge.

It was initially suggested that the defender, who featured for Chelsea at the Club World Cup last summer, could remain part of Liam Rosenior's first-team squad for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

But it appears he will join Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg, a move that has been criticised by fans on social media.

One fan said: "Chelsea’s management of Aaron Anselmino is extremely frustrating. Pulling him out of a top-level setup like Dortmund just to redirect him to Strasbourg feels regressive. It suggests the club is focused on correcting recruitment shortcomings instead of safeguarding the progress of a young prospect."

A second wrote: "I hate this. Aaron Anselmino is a human, not a chess piece for this ownership to play games with. Aaron Anselmino has a partner and a dog that he now has shuffle across three countries at the whims of this ownership. I accept the model, but I also acknowledge the person."

Chelsea's handling of the situation has been criticised by some. Image credit: X

A third commented: "Kids deserve better than loan roulette," and a fourth said: "Chelsea is going to ruin so many promising young players' careers."

A fifth added: "Feel for Aaron Anselmino who was in tears being recalled by Chelsea from BVB. Now it turns out he might not even stay and might be loaned out again to Strasbourg. Clubs toying with young kids like this, it’s a damn shame this is allowed."

Fabrizio Romano explains reason behind Anselmino decision

As mentioned above, Anselmino is seen as having a bright future at Chelsea. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano mentioned that fact when discussing the decision to recall the centre-back from his loan.

“Chelsea were very annoyed with Borussia Dortmund’s comments in public about Anselmino in the recent weeks and months, talking about their intention to buy him on a permanent transfer,” said Romano on his YouTube channel.

“Chelsea always considered Anselmino as part of their project for the long term, and so they were not happy with those comments, and this is why they decided to recall Anselmino.”