Chelsea receive exciting verdict over £15.6m transfer deal as Enzo Maresca decision looms
Boca Juniors president Juan Roman Riquelme has stated that Aaron Anselmino "is on his way to being a great footballer". Making a name for himself with Boca, the young defender completed a £15.6million transfer to Chelsea in August but immediately returned to La Bombonera on a loan deal.
A regular in the team upon his return to his home country, Anselmino unfortunately missed Boca's final six games of 2024 due to a hamstring injury. Although he returned to his former club for the 2024/25 season, reports have indicated that Anselmino is due to be recalled by Chelsea and will indeed join training with Enzo Maresca's team from next week.
However, it is not clear just yet if the centre-back will remain with the Blues for the remainder of the season or head elsewhere on loan to help aid his development. Regardless of what decision Chelsea come to before the month is out as they plot a big end to the campaign, they appear to have quite the player on their hands if Riquelme's verdict is anything to go by.
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“He has developed a lot. With the growth, the head that he has and the desire to learn that he shows, he is on his way to being a great footballer," said the Boca Juniors legend in an interview with ESPN.
"He is going to be a player for the national team. He is going to compete with the centre-backs.”
Anselmino is the latest in a long line of talented youngsters the west London club have bought during Todd Boehly's Chelsea tenure. The 19-year-old, who has signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge, will be able to provide cover at centre-back if Maresca chooses to keep him in the capital for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.
Chelsea are short at centre-back as things stand with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile in the treatment room due to injury. Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the recent game against Everton, Maresca revealed that both will be out for a "long period".
