Carney Chukwuemeka: Who is Dortmund's newest English starlet?
Borussia Dortmund are hopeful they can follow their blueprint to get the best out of highly rated young England star Carney Chukwuemeka, just as they have done so with other English talents such as Jude Bellingham and Jamie Gittens. bundesliga.com has the lowdown on their newest English addition...
Stats correct as of 3 February 2025
Age: 21 (born 20 October 2003)
Club: Dortmund (on loan from Chelsea)
Position: Attacking midfielder/left winger
Country: England
Key stats
Chukwuemeka was born on 20 October 2003 in Eisenstadt, Austria to Nigerian parents, before moving at a very early age to Northampton, England. There, he joined the Northampton Town academy, where he spent his early years of development before impressing scouts and being snapped up by Aston Villa in 2016, aged 12.
At Villa, Chukwuemeka continued to develop, with his physical attributes, ball-carrying ability and eye for an incisive pass all proving key in his rapid rise through the ranks. He ultimately signed his first professional contract with The Villains in July 2020.
After continuing to impress at Villa, Chukwuemeka was handed his senior debut in May 2021 in a 2-1 away win over Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. A week later, he helped Villa to a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the FA Youth Cup final, which marked Villa’s first win in the competition in 19 years. He also finished as the tournament’s top goalscorer. To cap off his first season of professional football, he came off the bench in the final Premier League game of the season in a 2-1 home win over future club Chelsea at Villa Park. At the end of the 2020/21 season, he was named Villa’s Academy Player of the Season.
In the 2021/22 season, Chukwuemeka continued to climb the ladder, making his first Premier League start in late August, before featuring in an EFL Cup match away at Chelsea. In total, at the Birmingham club Chukwuemeka made 14 appearances, including becoming the youngest ever player to register a Premier League goal contribution for Villa, which came in December 2021 in a 2-0 victory over Norwich City.
In the summer of 2022, Chukwuemeka was named in the England squad for the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championships. The starlet featured in every game of the tournament, scoring twice in the group stages. He then got on the scoresheet in the final, scoring England’s second in a 3-1 extra-time victory over Israel. These performances earned him an inclusion in the UEFA team of the tournament, and ultimately contributed to his move to Chelsea that same month.
In his first season for the Blues, he was used sparingly. He registered 14 appearances in all competitions in 2022/23, but he finished the season well, leading him to start the first two games of the 2023/24 season. He scored his first goal in senior football in the second of these matches, netting Chelsea’s only goal in a 3-1 defeat: a spectacular finish away at West Ham.
But he was unfortunately forced off with a knee in that same game, which required surgery and left him out until January 2024. He got another goal in an FA Cup match two months later at home to Leicester, but injuries had blighted his season, limiting him to just two starts and 10 substitute appearances.
Despite being restricted to five senior outings in 2024/25, including four in the UEFA Conference League, Chukwuemeka was snapped up by Dortmund on transfer deadline day, moving to Germany on a loan deal with an option to buy until the end of the campaign.
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Plays a bit like: Dominik Szoboszlai
Whilst he may be developing into a slightly more deeper role than the Hungarian played during his tenure at RB Leipzig, both players are tireless work horses for their sides, exceptionally comfortable with the ball at their feet and driving at defences. Likewise, they both always have an eye for an incisive pass. Whilst Szoboszlai definitely has the edge in terms of his shooting, Chukwuemeka stands an inch taller and perhaps has the physical edge as a more powerful runner.
Did you know?
Being born in Austria to Nigerian parents before moving to England made Chukwuemeka elligible to play for the national teams of all three countries, though he has only ever played in the England set-up, making his first two appearances at U17 level in 2019.
What they're saying
"Carney is an extremely talented box-to-box player who has made a real impression in the Premier League at a young age. His dynamism, his attacking mindset and his confidence, combined with his outstanding quality as a footballer, make him an exciting addition to our squad." - Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl
"Carney is one of the most exciting young players in Europe so we are really looking forward to seeing him in action at Stamford Bridge. We are delighted to be able to bring him to Chelsea and add such a talented young individual to our squad for the new season and beyond." - Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly on signing Chukwuemeka in August 2022
"He has got a bright future. I don’t see a lot of the kid’s football. First-half, he was outstanding. He was gliding across the pitch. He will be an absolute star. He glides across the pitch. He is a nice size. He gets on the ball. He looks for it and makes runs without the ball." - Arsenal legend Paul Merson on Chukwuemeka's first Premier League start, aged 17
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