Chelsea Firm on Carney Chukwuemeka Sale Amid Leipzig and Dortmund Interest

Chelsea have made it clear that midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka will only leave the club this summer in a permanent transfer, holding firm despite loan bids from Borussia Dortmund and renewed interest from RB Leipzig.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The London club has rejected loan approaches for Chukwuemeka, insisting on a full sale instead. Borussia Dortmund were first to open talks, after hosting Chukwuemeka on loan during the second half of last season. While the 21-year-old made 17 appearances for Dortmund across all competitions, Chelsea remain unmoved on their €40 million valuation and have turned down loan-based offers. Now, RB Leipzig have started discussions for a potential transfer, adding fresh competition for the English midfielder’s signature. So far, no club has matched Chelsea’s asking price, keeping negotiations ongoing as the transfer window heats up.

CHELSEA’S TRANSFER STRATEGY AND CHUKWUEMEKA’S SEASON

Chukwuemeka joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for around £20 million but has struggled for minutes at Stamford Bridge, making only 32 appearances in total. Injuries and competition for midfield places slowed his progress. His latest loan to Dortmund saw him get more game time, especially in the Bundesliga, where he appeared 10 times but only logged 245 minutes. With Chelsea keen to refresh their squad after a 2024/25 Premier League campaign that saw them finish 4th and qualify for the Champions League, the club is prioritizing player sales to raise funds for new signings, including a reported move for Xavi Simons from Leipzig. According to a recent report, Chelsea are in talks with Xavi Simons’ agents for a potential transfer, and Chukwuemeka’s sale could provide crucial revenue as Chelsea also look to balance financial accounts before the end of the window.

WHAT NEXT FOR PLAYER AND CLUBS?

Negotiations between Chelsea and interested clubs are expected to continue, with Leipzig and Dortmund both hoping for a breakthrough. Both German clubs see Chukwuemeka as a valuable addition, although matching Chelsea’s €40 million price remains the key hurdle. Leipzig, who finished seventh last season in the Bundesliga and will not play in any European competition this season, are also in talks with Chelsea over signing Xavi Simons, possibly linking the two deals. Chelsea’s pre-season continues this week, with their squad set to face Newcastle United, who finished 6th in the Premier League, in their next friendly, while Leipzig prepare to open their Bundesliga campaign against Bayern Munich, last season’s champions. Progress in these talks could shape all three clubs’ final squads for the new season.