Carney Chukwuemeka’s loan move to Borussia Dortmund has reignited debate over his lack of opportunities at Chelsea, with suggestions that financial and political factors rather than footballing ability have dictated his situation.
Carney Chukwuemeka’s struggles for game time at Chelsea appear to have less to do with his ability and more with club politics. Signed before Chelsea’s sporting directors took charge and under the old wage structure, he is reportedly earning £115k per week, making him one of the club’s higher-paid players. Dortmund are covering part or all of his wages during his loan spell, and Chelsea are said to be demanding his full £40m buyout clause to sell him—double what they originally paid.
While manager Enzo Maresca’s personal opinion on the player remains unclear, it seems Chelsea’s priority is to move him on for financial reasons rather than integrating him into the squad. His impressive start at Dortmund, where manager Niko Kovač has praised his unique ball-carrying ability and acceleration, suggests that he could have played a valuable role for Chelsea, particularly given their current struggles. Despite being frozen out, Chukwuemeka has remained professional, and his performances in Germany may ultimately prove that Chelsea have mishandled his development.
