Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino is set to complete a loan move to RC Strasbourg until the end of the 2025–26 season, with all parties now aligned and formal steps expected shortly, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano in a post shared on his official X account.
The Argentine centre-back was never going to return to Borussia Dortmund after Chelsea triggered a recall clause, as reported by SoftFootball, and Strasbourg have been chosen as the most suitable destination within the BlueCo network.
Fabrizio Romano posted:
Aaron Anselmino to RC Strasbourg, here we go! Deal in place over loan until the end of the season.
Argentinian defender was never gonna return to Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea pick RC Strasbourg as best solution.
Formal steps to follow.
Anselmino’s recall from Dortmund on January 26 came as a surprise in Germany, especially after his solid first half of the season. He made 10 appearances across the Bundesliga and Champions League, even scoring in a key win, form that was covered by SoftFootball during his spell in black and yellow.
Despite that progress, Chelsea were firm that he would not continue in Germany. Initially, the 20-year-old was not fully convinced about the Strasbourg option. Reports suggested he hesitated, preferring to stay at a Champions League level after Dortmund showed interest in a permanent deal.
But Chelsea see Anselmino as part of their long-term defensive plan and wanted him playing regular senior football in a more controlled environment. Strasbourg, also owned by BlueCo, ticked those boxes. The Ligue 1 club are open to the deal, as it also links with Chelsea’s wider defensive reshuffle.
With Levi Colwill sidelined by an ACL injury and both Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah dealing with fitness issues, Chelsea are exploring internal solutions. One of those could be Mamadou Sarr, currently on loan at Strasbourg, and Anselmino would effectively act as his replacement if a recall goes through.
Dortmund, for their part, made it clear they were disappointed to lose the defender mid-season. The German club had praised his attitude and development after landing him on loan from Chelsea earlier in the campaign.
Now, the focus shifts to France. Anselmino is expected to feature regularly in Ligue 1 over the coming months, gaining experience in a physical league while staying within Chelsea’s ecosystem. For the player, it is not a step back, just a different route forward.
