Why Chelsea Refused to Send Aaron Anselmino Back to Dortmund
Chelsea have reportedly chosen not to send Aaron Anselmino back to Borussia Dortmund on loan after being unhappy with comments made by senior figures at the Bundesliga side during the defender’s time in Germany. The decision follows Chelsea’s surprise recall of the Argentine from his season-long loan earlier this month.
Chelsea have decided not to loan Aaron Anselmino back to Borussia Dortmund after disapproval of comments made by the German club during his initial spell.
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The Blues opted to bring Anselmino back during the final week of the January transfer window as they assessed their defensive options ahead of the deadline. The move caught both Dortmund and the player off guard, with the German club later sharing an emotional video showing Anselmino in tears as he said goodbye to teammates at Signal Iduna Park.
While on loan, Dortmund officials made no secret of their intention to pursue a permanent deal. In November, sporting director Sebastian Kehl openly spoke about contacting Chelsea, insisting that both clubs shared a strong working relationship.
Despite Chelsea still weighing up Anselmino’s next destination over the weekend, Fabrizio Romano reports that Dortmund were swiftly ruled out. The Blues hierarchy reportedly “didn’t like” the earlier comments, particularly given that Anselmino is seen as a key player for Chelsea’s long-term plans. This outlook also explains why Chelsea turned down an approach from an unnamed Premier League rival this month.
Instead, Anselmino is set to join Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg on loan for the remainder of the 2025–26 campaign. That move could result in Mamadou Sarr’s loan at the Ligue 1 side being cut short. The 20-year-old is now available again after playing a role in Senegal’s successful Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
Sarr could then be quickly integrated into Chelsea’s senior squad as the club continues its search for defensive reinforcements. Earlier concerns over Sarr’s return had arisen due to Anselmino’s initial reluctance to join Strasbourg, but that issue now appears resolved.
Chelsea also explored signing Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes during the window, although the club are now expected to revisit that deal in the summer.
On the pitch, Chelsea are enjoying a strong run under new head coach Liam Rosenior, who has won six of his first seven matches. The Blues most recently staged a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to beat West Ham 3-2, marking their first such turnaround since 1987. Attention now turns to the Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal, where Chelsea aim to overturn a 3-2 first-leg deficit.
