Emotional Departure: Chelsea’s Anselmino Returns from Dortmund Loan

omidbasir- Chelsea defender Anselmino was visibly emotional as his season-long loan at Borussia Dortmund was abruptly terminated by the Premier League club on Monday. The 20-year-old Argentine, who joined Chelsea in 2024 before being loaned to the Bundesliga in August to gain valuable experience, was captured on video crying as he bid farewell at Dortmund’s training ground.

The footage, shared on Dortmund’s official channels, highlights the strong bond Anselmino developed with his teammates in just six months. He was seen embracing fellow players while the squad applauded his efforts. The decision to recall him to London has evidently affected the young defender, who had begun to settle into life in Germany and was enjoying his first experience of senior European football.

During his time at Westfalenstadion, Anselmino made 10 appearances across all competitions, contributing one goal and one assist. Although he was not a guaranteed starter each week, his development was apparent, and he became a well-liked member of the squad. His unexpected departure has clearly been a disappointment for a player who anticipated completing the remainder of the campaign in Germany.

Following his emotional exit, Anselmino expressed his gratitude on social media, thanking the Dortmund fans and his colleagues for their support during his short tenure. On Instagram, he wrote, “It was an incredible 6 months, thank you so much for the love you gave me from day one, I wish you all the best!”

This post elicited a heartfelt response from Fabio Silva, with whom Anselmino developed a close friendship. The Portuguese forward commented, “Thanks for all the shared moments dear brother!! I wish you good luck, I’m going to miss you a lot, but I’ll stay with all the experiences and your friendship. Thanks for everything!! I love you so much.”

While Anselmino’s reaction was one of sadness, the mood within the Dortmund boardroom is reportedly one of anger. The German club confirmed the recall in a brief statement on Monday morning, indicating that Chelsea had activated a break clause in the loan agreement. However, this situation has led to significant tension behind the scenes.

According to a report from German outlet Bild, Dortmund executives are “incensed” by Chelsea’s decision to recall Anselmino so late in the transfer window. With the deadline approaching in just one week, the Bundesliga club now finds itself short on defensive options and has little time to secure a replacement. This unexpected move has strained relations between the two clubs, as Dortmund feels blindsided by the sudden loss of a player they intended to develop throughout the season.

In London, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior is expected to integrate Anselmino into his first-team plans promptly. The club presumably recalled the Argentine to address defensive injuries or to bolster their squad depth for the latter half of the season. It remains to be seen how quickly he will be featured, but with a Premier League match against West Ham scheduled for Saturday, the centre-back could potentially make his debut.