Among all the big moves for superstar strikers and the vast sums that get mentioned when Romelu Lukaku or Kepa Arrizabalaga are involved, it’s easy to forget some of the smaller deals that are taking place at Chelsea as the window comes to and end.
Most members of our now infamous “bomb squad” get mentioned almost every day as rumours connect them with moves all over the place, but Tino Anjorin was barely noticed all summer. Yesterday he secured a move to Empoli in Serie A which is reportedly costing them less than a million pounds.
There’s a twist of course – Chelsea get 50% of any sell-on for the attacking midfielder.
Football.London have an interesting angle on the story to do with Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who is of course Italian and apparently directly recommended Anjorin to Empoli. Maresca never actually used Anjorin in a game, but must have been impressed by what he saw in preseason – at least before Anjorin got sent to train with the exiles.
The 22 year old becomes the 9th permanent transfer out of the club this summer, and certainly one of the cheapest, although we’re confident there will be more money coming in from this deal down the line.
🔵✍🏻 Tino Anjorin has signed in as new Empoli player on a permanent deal from Chelsea.
50% sell-on clause for Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/6SScYlo7zf
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 28, 2024
Chelsea gamble on attacker’s future
Let’s not forget that it was just a couple of years ago that Anjorin was really highly rated. Injuries have prevented him from building up any momentum on successive loan spells at Lokomotiv Moscow, Huddersfield Town and then Portsmouth.
Chelsea clearly think that he’s got talent – they wouldn’t be putting all their eggs in the sell-on clause basket if not. He’s been at the club since he was 7 years old, so everyone knows his talent and wishes him well on this new adventure. If he stays injury free, there’s no telling how far he could go.
