Faustino Anjorin

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[Vesper 27,310]

Chelsea’s breakthrough star – Tino Anjorin

https://theathletic.com/2034881/2020/09/02/chelsea-breakthrough-star-tino-anjorin-frank-lampard/

If 2019 will be remembered as the year Chelsea finally embraced its all-conquering academy, 2020 is shaping up to be something much more familiar in the Roman Abramovich era. A spectacular spending spree, targeting some of Europe’s most coveted players, is raising expectations at Stamford Bridge back towards the level of serious domestic and European contention.

There is every reason to think that Mason Mount, Reece James, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Billy Gilmour and Fikayo Tomori will continue to figure prominently in Frank Lampard’s thoughts, even as the transfer market supercharges his attempts to build the next great Chelsea team. For the next wave of youngsters across the road at Cobham, slightly too young to benefit from the happy confluence of a transfer ban and a manager inclined to trust youth, circumstances going into 2020-21 look less favourable in the short term.

But if we are to witness another Chelsea academy prospect break through in a meaningful way this season, the smart money would be on it being Tino Anjorin. Sources have told The Athletic that unless a loan offer emerges in this window that is too good to turn down, he is inclined to remain around the first-team squad and compete for minutes on the pitch with Lampard’s high-profile signings and established academy graduates.

It is a mark of just how highly rated Anjorin is throughout Europe in youth circles that he was included in the long list for the 2020 edition of Tuttosport’s prized Golden Boy award despite playing just 42 senior minutes for Chelsea last season, including an eye-catching cameo in a 7-1 rout of Grimsby Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup in September. Six months later, he made his Premier League debut as a substitute in a 4-0 home win over Everton, when he was one sure touch away from a goal.

Gilmour, enjoying the final minutes of his second midfield masterclass in the space of a week, won the ball deep in the Everton half and darted towards the penalty area. He showed the presence of mind to draw Michael Keane towards him before sliding the ball to his left, where Anjorin was hovering unmarked. The 18-year-old, whose first contribution to the match a few minutes earlier had been to try to volley in a dropping ball from 30 yards, couldn’t dream of a better chance to score.

Instead, his first touch allowed the ball to drift away to his left, moments before Djibril Sidibe wiped him out with a clean sliding recovery challenge that doubled as a classic “Welcome to the Premier League” moment. On the evidence of Anjorin’s broader body of work throughout the youth levels, it’s hard to imagine defenders being granted such opportunities for redemption in the future.

Watch any compilation of his goals and what strikes you is not simply the composure of the finishing, but also the variety. Anjorin scores virtually every type of goal from any range with either foot, though it’s fair to say he hasn’t yet shown himself a dominant aerial presence despite his muscular 6ft 1in frame. He specialises in driving into the box with the ball at his feet or arriving there without it at the right time and place to get himself a scoring chance. Once there, he generally favours precision over power.

Much like most of Lampard’s “Class of ’19”, Anjorin started his professional football journey at Cobham. He was signed as an eight-year-old after being spotted by Graham Castle, Chelsea’s scout on the south coast who was also responsible for bringing Mount and Dominic Solanke to the club. Anjorin’s father Sheriff, a former academy prospect at Brighton and non-League footballer, approached the choice of which club to entrust with his talented son cautiously, but was won over by the quality of the facilities and the impressive operation run by Neil Bath.

The moment that marked Anjorin out internationally as one of Europe’s elite prospects came much later, with England Under-18s against Russia at the Limoges Tournament in 2018. Receiving the ball on the right flank against Russia, he comfortably shielded it from his marker, worked his way infield and then lashed a shot with his left foot into the top far corner from 25 yards. He ended the competition as top scorer and was voted best player, the star of a victorious squad that featured Mason Greenwood and Bukayo Saka.

Injuries have slowed his lightning progress towards senior football since. Anjorin, like Ruben Loftus-Cheek before him, had to adjust to a sudden growth spurt in his mid-teens and is still learning how best to manage his imposing body. He employed a personal fitness consultant and followed a bespoke workout programme over the summer of 2019 to ensure he would come into the new season in prime condition, having missed a chunk of the previous campaign with a back injury.

Chelsea have been careful to manage Anjorin’s workload, employing the lessons learnt from Loftus-Cheek’s lengthy ordeal with injuries. But he has still been dominant in every youth competition and far more involved in first-team training under Lampard than predecessor Maurizio Sarri, who only called him up for one session during his year at Cobham.

The comparison with Loftus-Cheek is immediately obvious, but reductive. Anjorin is a very different player with a unique set of attributes that makes him capable of dominating the heart of midfield, imposing himself in the penalty area or thriving on either wing. His skill, strength and speed at such a young age — he isn’t 19 until November — suggest he has the rare potential to blossom into a complete modern footballer.

It is not even entirely clear yet what Anjorin’s best position will prove to be at senior level. Such versatility can be a detriment to development, as Ethan Ampadu has found over the last two years, but in this particular situation, the consequence may be more positive; Lampard has so many midfield and attacking options at his disposal now that Anjorin’s ability to fit in different possible combinations can only be preferable to needing a specific set of tactical circumstances to get a chance.

Anjorin believes he will get one. His decision to sign a new five-year contract, announced in June, was a statement of faith in Lampard as much as Chelsea to manage the next stages of his development. He can also take plenty of inspiration from the huge strides that Mount, Abraham and Hudson-Odoi have made over the last 18 months. The presence of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz will make his own path more difficult, but he has the talent to ensure the Stamford Bridge youth movement goes on.

[MoroccanBlue 5,197]

He's ready for a loan move. 

[Tomo 21,681]

Turns out he's the nephew of Ty from AFTV.

Scenes if he becomes their new Drogba.

[NikkiCFC 7,582]

He also got a medal. 

[NikkiCFC 7,582]

Give him loan.

[nyikolajevics 2,422]

Big honour for him:

 

“Lokomotiv’s No 10 had been retired since 2013 in honour of Dmitri Loskov — the attacking midfielder who played more than 400 games across three spells at the club, scoring 128 goals — and only restored for his one ceremonial farewell appearance at the end of the 2016-17 season. Sitting at the top of Lokomotiv’s all-time scoring and appearance lists, it is hard to dispute his claim to be considered the biggest icon in the club’s history, well worthy of having his number set aside forever.”

 

Source: The Athletic

[Vesper 27,310]

On 29/03/2021 at 18:44, Tomo said:

Turns out he's the nephew of Ty from AFTV.

Scenes if he becomes their new Drogba.

we have a buyback clause (£34m)

 

Lokomotiv have a buy-option set at £17m, which they apparently will activate as long as Anjorin performs well, but that buy-option also includes a buy-back provision for Chelsea at twice the price (£34m).

[NikkiCFC 7,582]

Scored in Europa League great goal against Marseille after coming from the bench. 

Also @ZAPHOD2319you have some job to do by moving some players from current squad to on loan and opposite. 

Edited September 16, 2021 by NikkiCFC

[ZAPHOD2319 3,873]

48 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Scored in Europa League great goal against Marseille after coming from the bench. 

Also @ZAPHOD2319you have some job to do by moving some players from current squad to on loan and opposite. 

It will need to wait until I have my laptop tomorrow. I am just on my cell phone tonight.

[NikkiCFC 7,582]

 

[James 5,140]

 

[Vesper 27,310]

20 minutes ago, James said:

 

Chelsea agree to loan out Tino Anjorin with first-team pathway mapped out

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tino-anjorin-Chelsea-loan-transfer-b1093283.html

By 

Nizaar Kinsella

 

Chelsea will allow Tino Anjorin to go on loan next season after outlining their belief that the academy midfielder can progress at the club.

The 21-year-old will now search for a suitable season-long loan after it was agreed that it would suit both parties for him to remain on the Stamford Bridge books.

The Blues will assist the England Under-20 international in finding a move after several injury-hit seasons since he turned professional.

Anjorin has offers from England, France, the Netherlands and Denmark as he seeks to prove why Frank Lampard handed him five senior appearances between 2019 and 2020.

Chelsea have Anjorin under contract until 2025 and will reassess his future next summer, either opting to sell him or offering him a new contract after a successful loan spell.

Anjorin has only played 26 games on loan at Lokomotiv Moscow and Huddersfield since making his debut for Chelsea. He fractured his metatarsal while playing in Russia and then suffered an ankle injury last season in the Championship.

Meanwhile, Ishe Samuels-Smith will stay in Chelsea’s Under-21s until January before the club evaluates whether to send him out on loan.

The 17-year-old joined the Blues over the weekend after completing a £4million move from Everton.

Anjorin has been training with a group of players referred to as the ‘loan group’ at Cobham. It features some of Chelsea’s best young English talents including Anjorin and Harvey Vale, along with players who are up for sale like Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Romelu Lukaku and Ethan Ampadu are expected to join this group when they return for pre-season this week.

[Vesper 27,310]

Chelsea’s Anjorin gears up for vital season – but where will he be playing?

https://theathletic.com/4748654/2023/08/08/anjorin-Chelsea-premier-league/

As one Chelsea youngster after another impressed during the club’s pre-season tour of the U.S., the question ‘where is Tino Anjorin?’ sprang to mind.

With new head coach Mauricio Pochettino freshly in charge, the tour was the perfect opportunity for someone like Anjorin, 21, to make an impact and stake his claim for a place in the squad.

But while fellow academy graduates Ian Maatsen and Bashir Humphreys did their utmost to do that, Anjorin was left behind at the club’s training base in Cobham.

This was not because he is on the Chelsea’s ‘for sale’ wish list like Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech, who are no longer wanted at Stamford Bridge and do not want to stay either.

Anjorin is actually still highly regarded at Chelsea but he has been spending the summer working on his fitness and recovering from the latest setback in his fledgling career.

Next month will mark the fourth anniversary of the attacking midfielder’s debut for the club (an EFL Cup game against Grimsby). Then, a little over a year after making his first-team bow, Anjorin started his first Champions League game for Chelsea against Krasnodar in December 2020.

However, over the past two years he has spent more time on the sidelines than on the pitch. Bad luck, rather than a lack of ability, has been the cause.

Here’s a brief recap of what has gone wrong: in the summer of 2021 he caught Covid-19, which hindered his chances of being ready to play for Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel, who was a big admirer.

Later that year he moved to Lokomotiv Moscow on loan with a view of joining them permanently for £17million ($21.7m). Yet just a few months into his Russian adventure, Anjorin broke his metatarsal and returned to Chelsea.

Last campaign he went to Huddersfield on a season-long loan. It was his second spell at the Yorkshire club after having joining them for the second half of 2021-22 (after Lokomotiv Moscow had ended their agreement).

Anjorin began strongly, establishing himself in the first team but caught glandular fever (Mono) and was out for three months. The day before his comeback match against Sheffield United in December, he suffered a serious ankle injury in training. It required an operation and he was ruled out for the rest of the season.

So that is why Anjorin has been working on his fitness for months in a bid to get ready for this season. It has helped that fellow academy graduate Armando Broja, who suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his knee last December, has been going through rehab with him at the same time.

Now the focus is on what the future has in store. Chelsea do not want to sell Anjorin, who has two years left on his contract, but are prepared to send him out on loan. The decision of where he goes is even more important as a result of his lack of top-level minutes.

Pictures have circulated on social media of Anjorin visiting some of the contenders. Portsmouth, who play in League One, are one of them. Their interest makes sense because former Chelsea academy coach Jon Harley is assistant manager there.

Anjorin was also seen recently at Dutch club FC Volendam, who were promoted to the top division (Eredivisie) in 2022 and finished 14th last season. There are Championship clubs, plus teams in France and Denmark, that are keen as well.

Clearly playing regularly is a must for Anjorin’s potential to be fulfilled whether it be at Chelsea or somewhere else.

Anjorin is keeping his options open and is not rushing the decision. Of the contenders, FC Volendam’s name is perhaps the most surprising because they are not well known. However, the style of play in the Netherlands compared will suit him more than it did in the EFL.

 

Anjorin in action for Huddersfield at the start of last season (Photo: John Early/Getty Images)

Then there is the fact many Chelsea academy players have benefited from spells in the past at Dutch sides, notably Noni Madueke, who Chelsea signed from PSV Eindhoven for €33million (£28.4m; $36.3m) in January having thrived in Dutch football after leaving Tottenham Hotspur’s youth ranks.

The picture should become clearer soon and it is worth noting that Anjorin has already shown the maturity to cope with the various setbacks which have hindered his progression.

Speaking to The Athletic last year, he said: “Being patient is part of football. Everyone needs patience, but you need to be hungry too and keep working. You don’t want to be just sitting around waiting for the chance to happen. It may never come. I will always try my best, put myself in a position where I am starting every single game that I can. I’d love to do that.”

Surely 2023-24 will grant him that wish.

[Reddish-Blue 2,223]

55 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Chelsea’s Anjorin gears up for vital season – but where will he be playing?

https://theathletic.com/4748654/2023/08/08/anjorin-Chelsea-premier-league/

As one Chelsea youngster after another impressed during the club’s pre-season tour of the U.S., the question ‘where is Tino Anjorin?’ sprang to mind.

With new head coach Mauricio Pochettino freshly in charge, the tour was the perfect opportunity for someone like Anjorin, 21, to make an impact and stake his claim for a place in the squad.

But while fellow academy graduates Ian Maatsen and Bashir Humphreys did their utmost to do that, Anjorin was left behind at the club’s training base in Cobham.

This was not because he is on the Chelsea’s ‘for sale’ wish list like Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech, who are no longer wanted at Stamford Bridge and do not want to stay either.

Anjorin is actually still highly regarded at Chelsea but he has been spending the summer working on his fitness and recovering from the latest setback in his fledgling career.

 

 

 

Should be sold with a buy back at this stage of his career. 

[Vesper 27,310]

On 12/08/2023 at 08:09, Reddish-Blue said:

Should be sold with a buy back at this stage of his career. 

If he had not broken his ankle, we would have gotten £17m for him from Lokomotiv

he was blowing up there

[Magic Lamps 11,449]

Bad luck. He is basially the exact same player Chukwuemeka is, just 2 years older