Tino Anjorin, who made his debut for Chelsea earlier this season, was pursued by Arsenal as a young player.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Tino Anjorin of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Group E stage match between Chelsea FC and FC Krasnodar at Stamford Bridge on December 08, 2020. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Tino Anjorin of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Group E stage match between Chelsea FC and FC Krasnodar at Stamford Bridge on December 08, 2020. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

19-year-old Tino Anjorin is starting to make his breakthrough into senior football with Chelsea. He made his full debut in the Champions League group stage in December, and he’s earned further substitute appearances in the FA Cup in 2021.

The midfielder signed a five-year contract with the club over the summer, a mark of their belief in his future.

Yet the England u19 international could have ended up at Arsenal as a child. After playing in a youth tournament in London aged seven, Arsenal joined Chelsea and Spurs in trying to sign the youngster.

Arsenal played another big part in Anjorin’s development at 10, when he faced one of his biggest setbacks. A Gunners side featuring Bukayo Saka thrashed Anjorin’s Chelsea youth side 13-2, and his father asked him to consider something other than football.

But the youngster doubled down and he’s not looked back since.

Anjorin has five goals and two assists in seven youth games this season, though he’s yet to get off the mark at senior level.

It looks like it’s just a matter of time on that front.