Dortmund’s Kehl admits Chelsea made English-Nigerian midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka’s transfer tough to complete

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl has admitted that securing Carney Chukwuemeka’s permanent transfer from Chelsea was far from straightforward, describing the negotiations as among the toughest he has faced.

The midfielder completed a €20 million (£17m/$23m) move after impressing on loan last season at Signal Iduna Park.

Chukwuemeka, who was born in Austria to Nigerian parents but represents England internationally, had little prospect of establishing himself at Stamford Bridge amid Chelsea’s packed midfield options.

Yet Kehl explained that the London club were determined not to release him on the cheap, with financial considerations playing a central role in the deal.

“Transfers in the Bundesliga are generally a bit easier,” Kehl told reporters. “We’ve now dealt with clubs that aren’t necessarily dependent on money. This changes the negotiating position dramatically.

“I have to say: the English are often pain-free. They sometimes deliberately enter the final phase of the transfer window because they know that, given their financial resources, they can rest assured that a potential domino effect will follow. So, we had to be patient in order to be able to negotiate.”

Chukwuemeka’s arrival is seen as an important investment for Dortmund, who continue to develop young talents into first-team regulars.

The 21-year-old is expected to compete for a starting spot under head coach Niko Kovač, with the club hoping his blend of energy, passing ability, and versatility can strengthen their midfield depth.