Carney Chukwuemeka's permanent switch from Chelsea was all but confirmed by Serhou Guirassy before an official announcement could be made.
Guirassy leaked Chukwuemeka's return to Dortmund via a SnapchatJoins permanently from Chelsea alongside loanee AnselminoThe double signing aims to strengthen Dortmund's squadFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Dortmund forward Guirassy has prematurely revealed Chukwuemeka's permanent transfer from Chelsea, posting a video on Snapchat of the midfielder wearing the German club's training gear. The clip, filmed inside what appears to be the club's cafeteria, was captioned: "My G is back!". Reports indicate Dortmund have agreed a deal worth approximately €20 million (£17m/$22m) to sign the 21-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan with the club.
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Chukwuemeka's transfer is part of a double swoop on Chelsea by Dortmund, who have also secured centre-back Aaron Anselmino on a season-long loan for a €5m fee, with no option to buy. The moves are designed to bolster Niko Kovac's squad after an unsteady start to the Bundesliga campaign, which included a 3-3 draw with St. Pauli. While Chukwuemeka is expected to add creative depth to the midfield, the 19-year-old Anselmino has been brought in to address their defensive crisis. For Chelsea, the departures free up squad space and funds as they continue to pursue targets like Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho.
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Chukwuemeka's made 17 appearances across all competitions while on loan in Germany last season and convinced the club's hierarchy to secure his services on a permanent basis.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CHUKWUEMEKA & DORTMUND?
With his signing now an open secret, Chukwuemeka is expected to be formally announced and integrated into the first-team squad immediately. He could be registered in time to feature in Dortmund's upcoming fixtures as Kovac seeks a swift improvement in results. Anselmino will also be tasked with getting up to speed quickly to provide cover at centre-back. Meanwhile, Chelsea will continue to navigate a busy end to the transfer window, with decisions still to be made on the futures of players including Nicolas Jackson, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell.