Aaron Anselmino has returned to England to rejoin Chelsea, after the London side activated a clause to recall the Argentine defender in January despite his loan spell at Borussia Dortmund. The decision was made at the request of Chelsea’s new head coach, Liam Rosenior, as the club reshapes its squad for the remainder of the season.
The defender will now share the dressing room with fellow Argentines Enzo Fernández and Alejandro Garnacho. His return brings an end to a short but demanding period in Germany, where he was sent to gain experience and regular playing time.
Dortmund confirmed Anselmino’s departure with a message thanking him for his time at the club and wishing him success in the next stage of his career. The former Boca Juniors player joined the Bundesliga side on loan in August 2025 after finding limited opportunities in London following his transfer to Chelsea in 2024, a deal reportedly worth $18 million.
During his time at Dortmund, Anselmino made 10 appearances across competitions, accumulating 585 minutes. He completed four full matches, came on as a substitute twice in extra time, and missed 12 games due to injury—seven in a row between September and October and the final five between December and January. He was also an unused substitute in five matches. Despite the interruptions, he scored a headed goal against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and provided an assist against Villarreal in the Champions League.
Anselmino now returns to London to be reintegrated into Chelsea’s squad under Rosenior. The Blues face two important fixtures before the end of January, starting with a Champions League match against Napoli on January 28, followed by a Premier League meeting with West Ham United on January 31.
