Chelsea confirm signing of Aaron Anselmino from Boca Juniors

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of 19-year-old centre-back Aaron Anselmino from Boca Juniors.

Anselmino has long been touted as a future star of South American football and was lined up as a target by Chelsea earlier this summer as part of their aggressive push to sign the continent's top young talents.

A £17m deal was struck several weeks ago and Chelsea have now confirmed the versatile defender, who is also comfortable in midfield, has inked a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

As part of the agreement, Anselmino will spend the 2024/25 season back on loan with Boca, where he has already made ten senior appearances.

Anselmino becomes the eighth new signing at Chelsea this summer, while the Blues have also struck a deal to bring Palmeiras winger Estevao Willian over to Stamford Bridge when he turns 18 in 2025.

Anselmino will join Estevao at Chelsea next summer alongside fellow South American starlet Kendry Paez, who will join from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle, as Chelsea look to build a side full of elite young talents.

Hopes are incredibly high for Anselmino, who made his senior debut in June 2023 and has been hailed as Boca's top young player by local media.

This season, Anselmino's progress has been slowed by a thigh injury which has seen his role in the team limited.

Whether Chelsea have an agreement with Boca over Anselmino's role in the team over the next 12 months is not yet known. The Blues struck a similar deal with Palmeiras over Estevao, financially rewarding the Brazilian side if they continue to play the young winger even though he will soon leave the club.

READ THE LATEST CHELSEA NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP