Carney Chukwuemeka

BVB

Carney Chukwuemeka returned to Borussia Dortmund at the end of August 2025, having previously played for BVB on loan from early February to early July 2025. He impressed with his vision and good passing, and was described several times as a “game changer” by manager Niko Kovac after his role in helping the team to win matches. “Carney is an outstanding footballer who had a bit of lost time to make up for. He has shown what he can do,” said Kovac after the 4-1 win in Freiburg, to which the 21-year-old contributed a goal and an assist. “He can make the difference by finding solutions in tight spaces. He gives us an extra element in midfield,” said sporting director Sebastian Kehl.
Chukwuemeka made 17 appearances in his first five months in Black & Yellow, including four of the five matches at the Club World Cup in the United States in the summer. He then returned to Chelsea. “It feels really good to now be an integral part of BVB,” he said after signing a five-year contract: “I’m just happy that Dortmund is now my new footballing home.” During his “loan spell”, he had already stated in an interview with BVB TV: “It’s peaceful here, you can really concentrate on football. The fans in the stadium are just incredible. The atmosphere gives you ten percent more energy on the pitch.”

Career

Borussia Dortmund (from 02–07/25 and since 08/25), Chelsea (08/22 – 02/25, 23 Premier League appearances, one goal), Aston Villa (2016-2022, 14 Premier League appearances), Northampton Town (until 2016)
As a child, he wanted to be a singer, “but then there was my older brother. I saw him playing with the ball and started to enjoy it myself,” he told BVB-TV: “And that’s how I started playing football.” From Northampton Town Academy, the then 12-year-old moved to Aston Villa in March 2016, where he was allowed to train with the professionals at the age of 15 and realised: “I can do this too.”
Chukwuemeka made his Premier League debut on 19 May 2021 in a 2-1 away win against Tottenham Hotspur, and a few weeks later he won the FA Youth Cup with the club’s U19s. At the beginning of August 2022, he moved to Chelsea, signing a six-year contract and making a total of 32 appearances for the first team, although never for the full 90 minutes. In February 2025, the midfielder moved to BVB on loan: “I am grateful to the manager. He has shown so much trust and belief in me.”

National team

Due to his place of birth in Eisenstadt (Austria) and his Nigerian parents, the England youth international is eligible to play for three different nations. He chose the country where he grew up and won the European Championship title with the English U19 team in 2022. Chukwuemeka contributed two assists and three goals to the title win, including a goal in extra time in the final against Israel.

Achievements

2022 U19 European Champion with England