Edouard Mendy has finally sealed his move from Rennes to Chelsea, the Premier League club announced this today via their official website. Chelsea paid £22 million to bring the 28-year-old Senegal goalkeeper to the club. The contract will keep him at Chelsea until 2025.
In his five years stay at Chelsea, Edouard Mendy is expected to compete with Kepa Arrizabalaga for the position of Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper. The Spain international who joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 for £71.6 million which is a world record transfer fee for a goalkeeper, has been under criticism due to his poor performance especially his avoidable mistakes in between the sticks.
Also read: Kepa Arrizabalaga’s mistakes: Frank Lampard to keep showing support
Based on the current set up at Chelsea, reports have it that Kepa is no longer the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. The title has been given to 38-year-old veteran goalkeeper, Willy Caballero who has been at the club since 2017. Hence, Kepa and the incoming goalkeeper Edouard Mendy will compete for the second spot.
However, Mendy is most likely to become the club’s first-choice goalkeeper especially if he is able to keep his impressive form which attracted the Premier League club to him. But if Kepa is not loaned to another club this season, it will be a fierce battle between the two goalkeepers which could be a good thing for Frank Lampard‘s squad.
Mendy said: “I am so excited to be joining Chelsea. It’s a dream for me to be a part of this exciting squad and to work with Frank Lampard and all of his coaching staff. I look forward to meeting my team-mates and can’t wait to get started.”
While Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: “As soon as Petr Cech and our technical team identified Edouard as the most suitable goalkeeper to complement our existing group, there was only one player we wanted to bring in.
“Edouard arrives following a season of real success with Rennes, he is ambitious for more, and we welcome him to our club.”
In the last season of Edouard Mendy at Ligue 1 club, Rennes, the Senegalese goalkeeper featured in 33 matches, he conceded 31 goals and kept 13 clean sheets in all competitions. Unlike Kepa, Mendy did not commit any error that led to a goal throughout the 2019-2020 season.
The goalkeeper is Chelsea’s seventh big-name signing in this summer transfer window. He will join Chelsea’s new boys like Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr, and Kai Havertz to continue with Lampard’s revolution at the club.
See you soon, Edouard! 👍#WelcomeMendy pic.twitter.com/ElkbbifmQj
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 24, 2020
