Aaron Anselmino: Why Chelsea have forked out £17m for 'the great jewel' of Boca Juniors

Anselmino was born in Bernardo Larroude, a village located in Argentina's La Pampas province: one of the largest open grassland areas in the country. Details on his upbringing are not widely known, but he managed to break into Boca's academy ranks at the age of 12, and his rise to prominence was meteoric.

Boca is one of the most renowned talent factories in world football, with the likes of Carlos Tevez, Fernando Gago, Ever Banega, and more recently Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina, all getting their starts in the game at La Bombonera. Anselmino quickly set about trying to emulate those household names, and spent six years honing his skills in the reserves before stepping onto the senior stage.

Argentine coach Jorge Almiron handed Anselmino his debut at the age of 18, as he came on as a half-time substitute in an Argentine Primera Division clash against Lanus in June 2023, and managed to leave a lasting impression. Anselmino helped drive Boca out of defence at every opportunity and snuffed out a number of promising Lanus attacks, which earned him special praise from Almiron.

“It was the debut of a little guy who did really very well," the Boca boss said after the game. "It seems like he had 200 games, the truth is that entering the Boca field and playing like he played… It's not easy and I'm very happy for him."

It was an emotional occasion for Anselmino, who had only signed his first professional contract hours before kick-off, but he played with a maturity belying his tender years, instantly endearing himself to Boca's hardcore fanbase in the process.

Anselmino would finish the 2023 season with five senior appearances to his name across all competitions, doing enough to prove himself as an important asset for Boca. By that stage he was already generating interest from Europe, which left the Argentine giants at risk of losing him for an insignificant fee.

On January 9, 2004, Boca handed Anselmino a contract extension though to 2028, and set his release clause at $20m. That show of faith did not, however, lead to an increase in minutes.

The teenage defender only played once in Boca's 2024 Copa de la Liga group-stage campaign, after Diego Martinez was drafted in to replace Almiron as head coach. Anselmino had to wait until April to make his mark, as he was given his first start for the club in a Copa Sudamericana clash with Nacional Potosi, playing 70 minutes in a 0-0 draw.

Anselmino did enough to retain his place in Martinez' line up for their next group game against Trinidense, and this time he had a decisive impact. Boca were staring down the barrel of another stalemate before Anselmino produced a stunning header to put them in front in the 70th minute, sending the La Bombonera faithful into raptures.

Lautaro Blanco swung a hopeful cross in from the left that needed someone to attack it, and Anselmino did exactly that, outmuscling his marker while timing his run and jump perfectly to nod the ball home. It was the moment that Anselmino truly announced himself to the world.

He also showed he can offer a genuine threat from set-pieces, which is invaluable in the modern game. But his joy would quickly turn to despair.

Boca ended up finishing the game against Trinidense with 10 men after using up all their substitutions, because Anselmino was carted off with an injury shortly after his match-winning contribution. It was later confirmed the Argentine ace had suffered a muscle tear, which kept him on the sidelines for the next two months.

He eventually made his return in a 1-0 league win Velez Sarsfield on June 15 - with former Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani scoring the winner before getting himself sent off. Anselmino was all smiles after coming on as a stoppage-time substitute, but he was barely on the pitch for a minute before suffering another unfortunate setback.

The 19-year-old was seen limping after going in for a challenge, and although he was able to stay on until the final whistle, he broke down in tears as soon as the referee blew it. It was another cruel blow for a player who is still adapting to the physical demands of football at this level.

"Aaron's injury is a shame. I don't know how bad his injury is," Boca boss Martinez said after the game. "He was in very bad shape. He's going to work hard again, prepare himself and we'll have that footballer that I feel the club has and he's going to give us a lot of joy."

A subsequent scan revealed Anselmino had suffered a reoccurrence of the issue that sidelined him through April and May, and he now faces another long road to recovery. These fitness problems will, of course, be a concern for Chelsea, but they will also note his strength of character - another sure sign of a top player.

Anselmino is a commanding, two-footed centre-back who thrives in one-on-one situations. The Boca youngster has an intimidating physical presence and also boasts plenty of pace, which may explain why he's on Enzo Maresca's radar, as the Chelsea boss is likely to set his team up with a high backline from next season.

In possession, Anselmino has even more going for him. He loves to get on the ball and is an accomplished passer, always looking to break through the lines and drive his team forward. For such a young player he is also surprisingly composed, and has a high footballing IQ.

All of these qualities allow Anselmino to play in a variety of other positions, including as a holding midfielder. When he eventually arrives at Stamford Bridge that versatility could be invaluable as he faces increased competition for a starting spot in the most demanding league in Europe.

Of course, no teenager can ever be considered the finished article. Anselmino is clearly a gifted footballer, but he will have to improve in certain areas if he is to fulfil his immense potential.

His main weakness is a reluctance to play from his weaker side, despite being more than competent on his left foot. There are times when he shifts his body needlessly to carry or control the ball with his right, which can lead to him being dispossessed.

In his 10 appearances for Boca so far, Anselmino has exceeded expectations, but has also been prone to the occasional lapse in judgement. With experience he will learn to cut out needless mistakes, though, and has shown himself to be a model professional in the first year of his senior career.

Anselmino may need to take extra steps to prevent any further serious injuries, though, especially when it comes to his hamstring. Breaking through at Boca was the hardest step, but now he has to prove he can stay fit for long periods.

Anselmino has been given the nickname 'Cata' at Boca, which is a nod to former Argentina defender Daniel Diaz, who famously scored the winner in a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Columbia during Diego Maradona's tenure in charge of the national team. Boca's new 'jewel' has the same aggressive streak as Diaz, but the comparison is not the most flattering or accurate one, because Anselmino boasts far more technical quality.

The versatile youngster has more in common with Walter Samuel, who is Argentina's current assistant manager and won 56 caps for La Albiceleste as a player and was part of Inter's 2009-10 treble-winning side. Javier Zanetti once refereed to Samuel as "the hardest player" he ever worked with, but he was also a very intelligent operator on the pitch.

Anselmino shares Samuel's shrewd positional sense, and looks to be just as effective in the air, which is no easy feat. Argentina had far flashier players in Samuel's era, but few more important, and Chelsea have a real diamond on their hands if Anselmino can go on and follow in his footsteps.

Chelsea are finding great value in the South American market of late, having already signed Estevao 'Messinho' Willian from Palmeiras for an initial £29m ($37m). Estevao will officially arrive at Stamford Bridge when he turns 18 in the summer of 2025, as will Kendry Paez, who agreed on a £17m move from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle in June last year.

Anselmino will join the teenage pair in west London, and provided he overcomes his injury problems, could make the transition from Argentina to England look seamless. His style of play is ideally suited to the intensity of the Premier League and he has a mature head on his shoulders.

Real Madrid and Manchester United reportedly also expressed interest in Anselmino, which shows how much of an impact he's made at Boca in such a short space of time, but Chelsea have won the race for his signature, and it won't be too long before supporters get to witness his unique skillset up close.

The Blues have begun planning for the future after some reckless spending at the start of the Todd Boehly-led ownership regime, putting their scouts to work to find the stars of the next generation. Anselmino certainly falls into that bracket, and if he continues on his current trajectory, there is no limit to what he can achieve.