When Chelsea sanctioned a last-minute loan move for Carney Chukwuemeka to Borussia Dortmund in January, many Blues fans were left scratching their heads. Why send out one of our most promising young midfielders, especially with the squad crying out for balance and creativity?

Fast forward a few months, and Chukwuemeka is making his presence felt in Germany — even if injuries have slightly limited his appearances. The 21-year-old has played impressed massively in the Bundesliga, scoring once, but his underlying numbers tell a much bigger story. According to Opta, he’s the only player in Europe’s top five leagues this season (minimum two starts) averaging per 90 minutes:

• 3.4 shots

• 2.6 key passes

• 2.6 successful dribbles

• 2.2 successful tackles

That is a phenomenal mix of attacking threat, creativity, ball-carrying ability, and defensive work rate — exactly what Chelsea have been lacking in midfield for much of this season. Chukwuemeka’s stats reflect a player who doesn’t just float around games — he dominates them.

His versatility has also been on full display. At Dortmund, he’s been deployed in multiple roles: as an advanced playmaker, a roaming No. 8, and even in a deeper midfield pairing. In each position, he has showcased maturity beyond his years, combining physicality, technique, and tactical intelligence. For a player who was often used sparingly at Chelsea, this is a breakout.

However, there’s a twist — and a worrying one for Chelsea fans. Dortmund’s loan agreement reportedly includes a €35 million buy option. While it’s unclear whether the option is mandatory or not, it does raise the alarming possibility that the Blues could lose one of their brightest prospects permanently, and for a fee that could look like a steal in a year’s time.

With Enzo Maresca likely to oversee a major shake-up at Stamford Bridge this summer, it would be criminal not to give Chukwuemeka a serious look in pre-season. He’s showing in Germany what many Chelsea fans already believed — that he has all the tools to be a top-level midfielder.

Letting him go could be a repeat of the Kevin De Bruyne or Jamal Musiala situations — a decision the club regrets for years to come. Chelsea should be thinking about how to build around Chukwuemeka, not sell him.