Chelsea Eye £11m Swoop for Boca Juniors Prodigy Tipped as 'The New Messi'

Chelsea are reportedly preparing an £11m move for Argentine attacking midfielder Tomas Aranda in January 2027, with a loan to Strasbourg already mapped out for the following stage of his development.

The 19-year-old has racked up 32 appearances for Boca Juniors and already won a senior Argentina cap, earning comparisons to Lionel Messi for his movement between the lines and his creative instincts in tight spaces. Argentine outlet El Crack Deportivo reports that Chelsea want his signature secured early in the new year.

The proposed structure mirrors a pattern the club has followed repeatedly. Chelsea and Strasbourg operate under the same BlueCo ownership umbrella, and the Premier League side has consistently used the French club as a proving ground for young signings who need first-team minutes before stepping into English football.

Andrey Santos, Aaron Anselmino and Dario Essugo have all followed that exact loan route from Stamford Bridge in recent windows. This summer alone, Chelsea added Estevao, Deivid Washington and Dastan Satpaev, a run of signings that confirms the club’s ongoing commitment to high-ceiling young talent.

Chelsea Plot Loan Deal to Continue Aranda’s Development

Aranda plays predominantly as an advanced midfielder or in a left-sided role, and Chelsea view Strasbourg as the right setting to refine those attributes before any serious Premier League push.

One factor complicates the timeline. Aranda suffered a fibula fracture and will not feature again during the 2026 calendar year. Chelsea’s planning is built around the January window, by which point the midfielder is expected to be fit enough to travel and start a structured rehabilitation process at his new club.

Should Boca Juniors agree to negotiate, Chelsea won’t have a clear run at the deal. Inter Milan, Como, Fiorentina and Aston Villa have all been linked with interest in the Argentine, per the same source, though none of those clubs has lodged a confirmed bid at this stage.

At £11m, Aranda fits the profile Chelsea has chased repeatedly: high upside, contained risk. Whether his recovery timeline and Boca Juniors’ valuation line up cleanly in January is the question that will decide if this move actually gets done.

Stick with TipsGG for updates on this transfer saga and every major move shaping Chelsea’s squad this window.