OFFICIAL: Chelsea complete Aaron Anselmino transfer

Tom Weber

• Updated: 8 Aug 2024 12:15 BST
• 3 min read

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Chelsea have officially completed the signing of Boca Juniors defender Aaron Anselmino, who will remain with the Argentine club on loan for the 2024-25 season.

The centre-back becomes the latest arrival in an already-long list of summer recruits. Chelsea have once again been busy in this transfer window and Anselmino is the newest talent on the books of the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Anselmino had a €23 million release clause in his Boca Juniors contract, but the Blues decided to open formal negotiations with the Argentine giants for the youngster. An agreement was reportedly reached for a guaranteed fee below his release clause.

READ MORE: Latest Chelsea transfer news

Chelsea have paid a reported €18m upfront for the 19-year-old and then potential add-ons on top. Anselmino has signed a contract until 2031 at Stamford Bridge after impressing as a defensive prospect in limited minutes for one of his country's biggest clubs.

One small sticking point during the negotiations with Boca was Anselmino's immediate future. The Argentine club wanted to keep him around on loan, while a potential move to BlueCo affiliate Strasbourg was also mooted.

Anselmino to stay at Boca

In the end, Boca managed to get their way and Anselmino will remain at Boca Juniors on loan for the 2024-25 season. Afterwards, he could potentially head to Strasbourg to get acclimatised to European football in Ligue 1.

Though Chelsea will not pay an exorbitant amount of money for the youngster, it seems a risky transfer. To date, Anselmino has only played a handful of senior games for Boca and he is not even a youth international for Argentina.

READ MORE: The HUGE list of wonderkids Chelsea have signed under Todd Boehly

It remains to be seen whether he is actually good enough for Chelsea or whether he is being signed to a long-term deal to eventually move him on for a profit.

A few of Chelsea's 'wonderkid' signings during the Todd Boehly era have already failed to have any kind of impact and there is a danger that this could become a running theme.