Aaron Anselmino
Aarón Anselmino #28 (Borussia Dortmund), FC Augsburg vs. Borussia Dortmund. Bundesliga, Germany, Round 9, 31.10.2025.
Chelsea’s decision to recall Aaron Anselmino in January continues to cause anger at Borussia Dortmund, where they’re questioning the ‘ludicrous transfer saga’.
Sport 1 cover the situation today and explain how the transfer deal has turned Anselmino into a ‘commodity’.
Chelsea prematurely ended his loan deal to Borussia Dortmund last month, much to the German side’s frustration.
The 20-year-old had been with them since the summer, and they could have really used his services due to defensive issues.
Instead, the club brought him back to Stamford Bridge before loaning him to sister club Strasbourg. He has accumulated just two minutes of playing time since.
Why Chelsea decision is being questioned
Dortmund are aware of that, adding to their frustration. Anselmino left the Bundesliga club in tears. The decision was very much out of his hands.
Instead, it was all driven by Chelsea. They informed Dortmund’s management that they were recalling the Argentina early despite his ‘obvious attachment’ to his temporary employer. Dortmund, though, had their hands tied.
“We had to accept this recall clause. It always comes down to your negotiating position. Chelsea made this decision, which they then communicated to us,” explained sporting director Sebastian Kehl.
The Blues didn’t want him for themselves, though. They had wanted Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes and were planning to use Anselmino for their own negotiating position. Jacquet then decided to join Liverpool, leaving the Chelsea player in limbo.
Chelsea multi-club model commodities
That pushed Aaron Anselmino down the pecking order, leading to questions why they took him back in the first place.
They only increased when he was then sent to Racing Strasbourg instead. Now he’s barely featuring for the French side.
Dortmund, meanwhile, are wondering what the point was after the deal seemingly left them short‑changed for little return.
Their frustration is growing, some on Anselmino’s behalf. He’s just the latest player to be treated as ‘mere commodities and pawns’ by Chelsea’s multi-club model.
His ‘tears’ leaving Dortmund have only helped to bring more critical attention to it.