'Deal done' - Chelsea flog star once labelled 'quality' by Thomas Tuchel for £840k

Chelsea have sold midfielder Tino Anjorin to Serie A outfit Empoli this week as Enzo Maresca continues to trim down a loaded Blues squad before the summer window slams shut later this week.

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has already made progress towards a loan move to Premier League rivals AFC Bournemouth in recent days and now Anjorin is the latest to leave Stamford Bridge. The 22-year-old is a product of the Blues academy but has made just five first team appearances for Chelsea.

The player's debut came in September 2019 during a Carabao Cup win over Grimsby Town and he went on to play in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. Anjorin spent last season on loan at Portsmouth having previously gained experience at Huddersfield Town and Lokomotiv Moscow.

Anjorin has a Champions League winner's medal to his name thanks to the Blues' triumph in 2021 and was also part of the Pompey squad that won League One last season. He has been capped at England under-20 level but is yet to make a senior appearance for the Three Lions.

When emerging under Thomas Tuchel as a teenager, the midfielder was hailed as 'quality' by the former Blues boss. Tuchel added: "He’s confident, he’s strong, he’s creative. He scores a lot of goals and assists a lot of goals in training."

Confirming the move, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano wrote on social media platform X: "Tino Anjorin has signed in as new Empoli player on a permanent deal from Chelsea. 50% sell-on clause for Chelsea."

Reporter Nicolo Sachira added that the fee is believed to be €1 million, which is around £840,000. Anjorin took to Instagram on Wednesday morning to share a parting message with Chelsea fans.

He wrote: "It’s been a great journey with many highs from training in the summer camp as a 6-year-old boy to making my Champions League debut but it’s time for it to come to an end. I thank all the players I’ve played with, all the staff members that have developed and looked after me throughout all the years and the fans who have followed and supported my journey as a player! It’s been my home for as long as l can remember and wish Chelsea FC the best of luck for the future."