Chelsea confirm Aaron Anselmino transfer as summer spending continues

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of teenage centre-back Aaron Anselmino.

The 19-year-old has signed a seven-term contract at Stamford Bridge and becomes the club’s eighth summer signing.

Blues chiefs are thought to view Anselmino as having the potential to become a first-team regular over the coming years and are believed to have paid around £17m for his services.

The Boca Juniors defender will return to the Buenos Aires giants on loan ahead before officially linking up with the Chelsea first-team squad at a time not yet confirmed by the club.

Anselmino is the latest South American talent signed during the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital era.

Kendry Paez, Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington and Angelo Gabriel have all arrived at the club, while the highly-rated Estevao Willian join next summer in a deal that could make him the most expensive South American teenager in history.

The deal with Palmeiras is worth an initial £29.5m but could rise to as high as £51m if the criteria for various add-ons are met.