Huddersfield Town News 24/7 

Tino Anjorin - What to expect

30/01/2022

Town are yet to make a signing in the January Transfer window, and it sounds like that is set to change with the imminent arrival of 20 year old attacking midfielder Tino Anjorin. Having spent the first half of the season on loan with Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia, Chelsea has decided to recall Tino and send him on loan to Huddersfield Town.

What type of player is he?

Primarily a number 10, Tino is a versatile player who can operate off both flanks, a bit further forward as part of a front two or further back in central midfield. The right-footed playmaker is a goalscoring midfielder who has represented England all the way up to U20 level. At 6ft1, he would add height to Town's midfield, while also being comfortable using either foot. His composure on the ball is impressive, the way in which he effortlessly seems to glide past the opposition. His linkup play and vision is outstanding and is a level above what Town already have.

His time in Russia

Lokomotiv Moscow signed Anjorin on a season long loan in the summer of 2021, with an option to make the loan permanent for £17 million, while Chelsea had a £34 million buy back clause if the deal was made permanent. In Moscow, he was handed the number 10 jersey, so he was clearly rated by the Russian outfit. He played in 9 of Lokomotiv's 10 games he was fit for, before a fractured metatarsal put him out of action in early November and hasn't been available since. Anjorin scored once in 9 games, although he only managed 293 minutes. Tino was utilised in a number of different positions: central midfield, attacking midfield, left midfield/ wing and then as a striker.
There is also a link between Manchester United's new manager: Ralf Rangnick and Anjorin. Rangnick was the man in charge of Lokomotiv's summer transfer strategy and was the man who ultimately signed Anjorin. Rangnick's managerial style revolutionised German football with his Gegenpress, influenced manager such as Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel, Julian Nagelsmann and some manager called David Wagner - apparently he did quite well for Town. Ralf then went on to become an executive within Red Bull's football group, he was Director of football at Salzburg and Liepzig before taking charge of the whole Red Bull group. He was responsible for finding players such as Erling Haaland, Karim Adeyemi, Naby Keita, but the list goes on. He knows how to run a football club while keeping brand progression in mind and clearly knows talent when he sees it. So the fact that Rangnick made it his marque signing in Moscow, should say how much Anjorin is rated.
The injury along with the departure of manager Marko Nikolic and Rangnick was the reason for Chelsea to recall and look for a domestic loan to continue his development. While from a performance point of view, the loan was a complete fail, but it did build him up as a person and give him a first proper taste of senior football. So from that aspect it wasn't a waste of time.

Youth Record

Tino has made his way through the youth ranks at Cobham and has featured extensively in the PL2 and U18PL, while also having featured in the EFL Trophy. In the EFL Trophy which is against League 1 and 2 sides, Tino has 5 goals, 4 assists in 7 appearances and 383 minutes - that is a goal contribution every 55 minutes, with that also being from midfield.
The game where he was most impressive for the U23s was in a 6-1 demolition of a very strong Manchester United side where Anjorin managed 2 goals and 2 assists, playing on the left of a 3-4-2-1 behind the striker. He has experience playing in the 3-4-2-1 and the 4-2-3-1 as Chelseas play both systems in their youth sides, so he would fit into Town's style as they play the same.

The big question.

The question people are going to rightly ask is: Is Anjorin ready? Because we don't wamt to have a repeat of the Mipo situation.
Leigh Bromby mentioned in a recent interview with Steven Chicken that Town signed Mipo because he had the best stats in the PL2 who was available. Mipo had played a few times in the EFL trophy, but Town would be his first senior experience. Tino on the other hand has played in the Champions League for Chelsea (and has a winners medal) and has had a loan stint in Russia. Anjorin is in a better position, he has more experience and he has played at a higher level.

The Verdict

A Champions League winner, who has played and scored in the Europa League this season is surely a no brainer. Mipo may not have worked out, but Anjorin seems streets ahead, Southampton wanted him for the rest of the season, but already have Armando Broja on loan, so can't. He has the talent, whether he can come in and utilise it and affect the team is another question.
He is exactly the sort of signing Town needs if they are going for promotion and fills a hole in the team that Town desperately required. If the deal goes through, it would be a bold claimf for me to make, but I believe that it would be the best signing of the window by any team in the Championship. If he can stay fit he could be the catalyst for promotion.