Chelsea has officially announced the signing of defender Aaron Anselmino, who will be loaned out to Boca Juniors for the 2024/25 season. The 19-year-old has committed to a seven-year contract with the Premier League club but will first continue his development in Argentina, where Chelsea plans to closely monitor his progress.
Anselmino started his football journey in the youth academies of Juventud Unida and Sportivo Realico before joining Boca Juniors at the age of 12. He signed his first professional contract with Boca on June 10, 2023, making his first-team debut on the same day against Lanus. Since then, the center-back has made ten appearances for Boca, scoring his first senior goal in April during the Copa Sudamericana group stage against Trinidense. Chelsea welcomed Aaron, wishing him success during his loan spell.
In other news, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has highlighted the team’s defensive issues following a disappointing pre-season in the United States. The Blues conceded 12 goals in five games, managing only one win, three losses, and one draw. After a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, Maresca noted that the team’s high defensive line has been a major concern. He mentioned that efforts are being made to drop the defensive line by four or five meters to address this weakness, which has been a lingering issue since last season.
Under former coach Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea showcased strong attacking capabilities, scoring 77 goals last season. However, defensive lapses led to the team conceding 63 goals, resulting in a sixth-place finish. Maresca is determined to strengthen the team’s defense as they prepare for the upcoming season.