August 30th 2024.
Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino had a high opinion of Djordje Petrovic, a favorite player of his who has recently secured a move away from Stamford Bridge on deadline day.
Petrovic's journey with Chelsea began a year ago when he was signed for a staggering £14m from the Major League Soccer team New England Revolution. He had already made a name for himself in America, with an impressive record of keeping four clean sheets in a single month during his first season in the MLS. This led him to be a strong contender for both the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and MLS Newcomer of the Year awards.
The talented Serbian continued to make waves in the 2022-23 season, setting a record as the fastest player in MLS to save five penalties and earning a spot in the MLS All-Star team. While he was initially expected to be the backup goalkeeper for Chelsea, an injury to No. 1 Robert Sanchez in December gave him the opportunity to become Pochettino's first choice. He made 31 appearances across all competitions but failed to impress Pochettino's successor Enzo Maresca, who has since reverted back to Sanchez for the new season.
As a result, Chelsea has decided to send Petrovic out on loan to Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg, with plans to monitor his progress throughout the year. The 24-year-old's last season with Chelsea saw him become the first-choice goalkeeper for the team.
In a statement, Chelsea said, "Djordje joined the Blues last summer from New England Revolution and made 31 appearances, including a start in the Carabao Cup final, during his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge. The 24-year-old will now continue his development in the French top flight. We look forward to supporting and monitoring Djordje throughout his loan spell. Good luck, Djordje!"
Petrovic is not the only goalkeeper leaving Chelsea before the transfer window closes, as Kepa Arrizabalaga has joined Premier League club Bournemouth on a season-long loan. Kepa, who remains Chelsea's most expensive goalkeeper after his £71m transfer from Athletic Bilbao in 2018, spoke highly of his new team and the manager Andoni Iraola, whom he knows personally.
"I know Andoni Iraola well, so of course that was a big reason for coming here. He spoke very highly of everything here," said the 29-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid. "I am ready to play in front of our fans and hopefully we can achieve great things this year." Chelsea fans can stay updated on all the latest news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up and agreeing to the privacy policy.
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