Spanish goalkeeper Sanchez was unveiled as Chelsea’s latest summer signing on Saturday in a £25m deal from Brighton.

The 25-year-old has agreed to a seven-year contract in west London after making 23 Premier League appearances for Brighton last season before losing his starting position to Jason Steele.

Mauricio Pochettino was keen to sign a new shot-stopper to provide cover and competition for current No. 1 Arrizabalaga after Chelsea sold Edouard Mendy to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli.

But after his ‘exciting’ transfer to Stamford Bridge, Sanchez wants to take over as Chelsea’s starting goalkeeper and has no intention of warming the bench there.

‘I’m really excited,’ he told Chelsea’s official website. ‘It’s an amazing opportunity to work with a coach of that level.

‘We’ve all seen what he’s done at his previous clubs. I think what he brings to clubs is really good and hopefully I suit his playing style.

‘I want to contribute and help the club win trophies. I know it will be a big challenge but I’m ready for it.

‘The opportunities this club will give me are amazing, to develop more as a goalkeeper, to keep learning and to compete for the No. 1 spot and show everyone how good I can be.’

Since Sanchez played with Colwill and fellow Blues defender Marc Cucurella at Brighton, he will run into a few old faces at Chelsea.

Colwill, who impressed while on loan at Brighton last season, is anticipated to play a significant role for Chelsea this year, while Cucurella, an ex-Seagulls star, finished a £60 million transfer to West London around this time last year.

‘I spent last season with Levi and we’ve got a really good friendship now,’ Sanchez said. ‘I think the spell at Brighton was really good for him, it got him ready for what he’s going to face at Chelsea.

‘He’s a top player and still only 19, so the sky is the limit for him.’

Media duties! 👊 pic.twitter.com/hiThLkoNEM

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 5, 2023

Sanchez, who has two Spain caps, joined the team in 2013 at the age of 15, and made 90 appearances for Brighton.

Discussing Sanchez’s departure from the south coast club, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi said: ‘Robert is a good guy and a really good player, but being a coach sometimes means making difficult and painful decisions for the team.

‘I wish him good luck for the future.’

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Reports suggest that Chelsea is nearing the signing of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from Brighton as they seek to strengthen their goalkeeping options following the departure of Edouard Mendy.

Chelsea has been in search of a capable backup for Kepa Arrizabalaga since Mendy’s move to Al Ahli earlier in the summer. The club has now set its sights on Sanchez.

During the previous season, Sanchez, 25, was replaced as Brighton’s starting goalkeeper by Roberto De Zerbi, who preferred Jason Steele for his ball-playing abilities. Brighton also acquired Bart Verbruggen from Anderlecht for a fee of just over £16 million this summer.

Sources have confirmed that Sanchez’s move to Chelsea is imminent. The two clubs have reportedly agreed on a transfer fee, and personal terms are no longer a hurdle. Sanchez is expected to undergo a medical soon before finalizing the deal at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s goalkeeping coach, Ben Roberts, who initially worked with Sanchez at Brighton and then followed Graham Potter to Chelsea, has played a significant role in the club’s pursuit of the goalkeeper.

At the start of the summer, Chelsea explored a deal for Andre Onana in their search for a top goalkeeper to challenge Kepa. However, Onana ultimately joined Manchester United. A bid for Mike Maignan was also rejected due to AC Milan’s high asking price.

Sanchez is favored by Chelsea’s recruitment department because of his Premier League experience and his status as a homegrown player, thanks to his time in the Brighton academy.

Chelsea and Brighton are reportedly still in discussions regarding midfielder Moises Caicedo, for whom Chelsea has had two offers rejected this summer. Brighton is holding out for a £100 million fee for the talented midfielder and swiftly turned down an £80 million offer.

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Roberto Firmino, who left Liverpool for Al-Alhi on a free transfer, is the newest player to relocate to Saudi Arabia.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Firmino has joined the ranks of other players who have travelled to Saudi Arabia, including Edouard Mendy, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Mendy joined Firmino’s team in 2023–2024 because he transferred from Chelsea to Al-Ahli at the same time.

Bobby Firmino, Al Ahli player ✅🟢🇧🇷 https://t.co/tPgey480uC

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 4, 2023

Firmino played at Liverpool for eight years, making 35 games and scoring 13 goals. He won the Premier League, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup while playing with the Reds.

Firmino will join Al-Ahli as they continue their 2023–24 season preparations.

Official, confirmed. Roberto Firmino joins Al Ahli on free transfer. 🚨🟢🇸🇦

Deal completed on three year contract. pic.twitter.com/MYtygNa5ZR

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 4, 2023

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On Monday, Pochettino made his first visit to the team’s training facility in Cobham and immediately started to win over supporters by proclaiming that the Blues had been England’s best team for the previous ten years.

The Argentine has a challenging task ahead of him after Chelsea’s lowest Premier League finish since the 1993–1994 season—12th—last season.

In preparation for a season without European competition, their team is undergoing major surgery. N’Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Mateo Kovacic, and Kai Havertz have all already departed, and Mason Mount is on the verge of leaving as well.

There aren’t many obvious prospects to succeed club captain Cesar Azpilicueta, who is anticipated to join Atletico Madrid, but Pochettino has urged his team to take charge and act as leaders.

“We need leaders, not followers, in every single area and we will push every person to bring their best and give their best for the club,” Pochettino said.

He added: “If we are all together, we are going to be very strong. We have an unbelievable squad and for sure are going to bring players with commitment who want to be part of it also. With the fans and everyone, we can find again the way to be successful.”

Because Azpilicueta’s transfer hasn’t been finalized, Chelsea hasn’t decided who would serve as captain, but it’s likely that vice-captain Thiago Silva will do so.

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Chelsea have confirmed goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has officially left the club in order to join Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.

Under previous manager Thomas Tuchel, Senegal was the Blues’ primary goalkeeper and was vital to their successful Champions League run in 2020–21, allowing only twice in seven games.

The 31-year-old Senegal international is the newest player to leave Stamford Bridge during the Premier League club’s ongoing summer of change.

After Kalidou Koulibaly and N’Golo Kante left for teams in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, respectively, he is the third player to leave Chelsea for a side in the Saudi Pro League.

A statement from Chelsea said: “Edouard Mendy has left Chelsea after three seasons and completed a permanent transfer to Saudi Professional League side Al-Ahli.
“The 31-year-old will be best remembered at Stamford Bridge for the key role he played on our run to Champions League glory in 2021.
“Having started his career in the lower tiers of French football – and even spending several months without a club – Mendy rose to the pinnacle of European football with Chelsea.
“A hugely likeable character on and off the pitch, he will always have a place in our history for his significant contributions to our 2021 Champions League triumph.
“For that, and for everything else, we are grateful. Good luck, Edou! “

Edou Mendy has left Chelsea and joined Al-Ahli FC. ✍️

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 28, 2023

Mendy initially joined the Blues in 2020, moving from Rennes, and helped the team win the Champions League that year while compiling a club-record nine clean sheets.

In addition to playing a key role in his nation’s triumphant AFCON title win that year, this resulted in him earning the 2021 Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper Award.

However, following a slump in form and a flurry of management changes at Chelsea, Mendy fell out of favor, with Kepa Arrizabalaga chosen.

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The summer exodus continues at Chelsea, with Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy apparently agreeing to move to Saudi Arabia.

Another prominent player is expected to leave Chelsea. The sale of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy by Chelsea to Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli has been finalized.

The Senegalese goalkeeper has one year left on his deal, but Chelsea and the player were unable to come to terms on an extension. As a result, the player is reportedly planning to go to Saudi Arabia.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano, who first broke the story, later confirmed that Chelsea and Al Ahli have verbally agreed to sell Mendy.

All that’s needed to do is sign the contracts since the goalie and the club have come to terms on a three-year deal last week.

Understand Chelsea have reached full verbal agreement with Saudi’s Al Ahli to sell Edouard Mendy. 🚨⚪️🟢🇸🇦 #CFC

Mendy agreed personal terms with Al Ahli on three year deal, as revealed last week.

Contracts to be checked, then signed if all goes to plan.

Here we go 🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/8OsjHSTJRz

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 21, 2023

Additionally, according to Fabrizio, another Chelsea player, Hakim Ziyech, is reportedly ready to transfer to Saudi Arabia after the Blues and Al Nassr reached a complete deal about the winger’s sale.

Ziyech has also agreed to a contract that runs until 2026, much like Mendy, thus all that is left to do is for the clubs to exchange contracts. Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in January, will be joined by Ziyech.

In the summer of 2020, Mendy and Ziyech both joined Chelsea. They were both a member of the squad that won the Champions League that same year.

They had coincidentally both lost favour with the team, and Ziyech had come very close to leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in January when the deal fell through at the eleventh hour.

N’golo Kante’s transfer to Al Ittihad has already been announced, and players like Kalidou Koulibaly and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have also been connected with moves to the region. This is part of a larger exodus of players from Stamford Bridge to Saudi Arabia.

Understand Al Nassr have reached full verbal agreement with Hakim Ziyech to join the club. Personal terms agreed. 🚨🟡🔵🇸🇦

Ziyech will sign until June 2026, if all goes to plan.

Agreement reached also with Chelsea, waiting to prepare, check then sign contracts.

Here we go! 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/wywVV8cocB

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 21, 2023

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Ziyech and Koulibaly are just two of the players that are available for transfer as Chelsea looks to raise cash this summer in order to pay off debt from the previous two spending sprees and fund more projects for this year.

When Blues co-owner Todd Boehly recently travelled to Saudi Arabia for discussions with a number of football officials, one of the subjects of discussion was the availability of Chelsea’s peripheral players.

Ziyech will be the first Chelsea player to travel to the Middle East this summer, according to sources who spoke with 90min after the Saudi leadership pushed swiftly in this direction.

Ziyech has reached an agreement on a three-year contract to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, and he will soon get a medical before signing the contract.

Regarding Koulibaly, negotiations for a transfer to Al-Hilal are continuing. The former Napoli centre-back has declined a permanent deal to Saudi Arabia in favour of returning on loan to Serie A.

A three-year contract through 2026 is also on the table for the 31-year-old, and a deal regarding personal terms is almost ready to be finalized.

The representatives of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are still being talked to by Saudi officials in other locations. Neither player has an agreement in place just yet, but according to sources close to Chelsea, the Blues are certain that both will go for Saudi Arabia.

Callum Hudson-Odoi has also been considered, although he is not currently interested in moving to the Middle East. Romelu Lukaku has been targeted but is eager to stay in Europe.

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Thiago Silva’s career will continue after turning 39 thanks to Chelsea and a fresh 12-month deal that was informally agreed upon.

The Brazilian international, who has made 24 appearances for his team across all competitions this season, has decided to stay in west London through the summer of 2024 as his form continues to defy his age.

The extension will now be actioned by Chelsea’s lawyers and Silva’s agent after a prolonged period of talks, which were revealed earlier this week by reports.

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Silva has reportedly settled in well in west London with his children speaking English well and participating in the Blues academy teams. He has also spurned down offers from Fluminense to return to his own country.

The renewal of N’Golo Kante’s contract, which is set to expire at the end of the current season, is the next in line for renewal, and Chelsea will be hoping that this marks the beginning of a string of new contracts.

It will be followed by another round of talks to retain Mason Mount, whose below market rate £70,000-a-week deal expires in 2024.

There are also plans to keep Mateo Kovacic and Edouard Mendy until the end of the season.

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Edouard Mendy has reportedly turned down a six-year contract offer from Chelsea because he feels he deserves wage parity with Kepa.

The Senegal goalkeeper has reportedly rejected the Blues’ offer of a new long-term contract two and a half years before the conclusion of his current contract because he feels the team is not treating him with enough “respect” regarding salaries, according to the Sun.

The 30-year-old reportedly earns £100,000 a week but he wants a sum close to his rival Kepa Arrizabalaga who is said to be earning almost double.

“Edouard is back at Chelsea and he is ready to play,” a club insider told the Sun. “But there is a feeling that the contract situation is just going nowhere.”

“Edouard has won some huge trophies for Chelsea, but there is a sense that he is not being shown enough respect by the club over a new deal.”

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Mendy joined Chelsea from Ligue 1 team Rennes in the summer of 2020, quickly becoming the team’s uncontested No. 1 as they won the 2020–21 Champions League and Club World Cup.

Before winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal in Cameroon in February of this year, he was chosen as Fifa’s Best Goalkeeper of 2021.

Mendy began the season as Chelsea’s starting goalkeeper, but Kepa eventually took over after he sustained an injury in September.

It wasn’t until Kepa’s injury during the Blues’ 4-1 Premier League loss to Brighton Hove Albion at the end of October that Mendy was able to reclaim his starting position.

Mendy, who featured in all four matches for Senegal in their run to the World Cup round of 16, is reportedly a transfer target of Serie A champions AC Milan as well as French sides Monaco and Nice.

It will be intriguing to see which goalkeeper Graham Potter chooses for the team’s Premier League encounter against Bournemouth on December 27 given that Mendy has resumed training with Chelsea and Kepa is healthy.

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has sent a message of warning Arsenal as the Chelsea striker takes on his former side Arsenal on Sunday and claims it will be ‘nothing personal’

The international from Gabon scored 92 goals in 163 games for Arsenal before leaving the club by mutual consent in January this year.

The 32-year-old spent four years in north London after moving there for a then-club-record sum of £60 million. However, his tenure there was marred by the loss of his position as club captain shortly before leaving due to disciplinary troubles.

After spending six months at Barcelona, Aubameyang returned to the Premier League this summer when he signed a two-year contract with Chelsea.

With a reunion with Thomas Tuchel last little over a week, the striker has scored three times under Graham Potter and now has his old club in his sights.

‘Arsenal, nothing personal. I’m back, I’m blue, I’m ready.’ Aubameyang warned in a promotional video with BT Sport.

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Last Saturday, The Blues suffered a humiliating 4-1 loss against Brighton, their first defeat under Potter. Aubameyang was one of the starting eleven for the Blues on Wednesday night as they narrowly defeated Dinamo Zagreb at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal head across town to west London as Premier League leaders, having won 10 of their opening 12 games to leave them two points ahead of champions Manchester City.

Following their loss at the AMEX Stadium last Saturday, Chelsea now trails them by 10 points and has dropped to the sixth position.

Potter is already without one of his most influential players in Reece James with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga now set to miss out.

The Spain international has been restored as Chelsea’s no1 ahead of Edouard Mendy but will not be available on Sunday, watching last night’s 2-1 win from the stands on crutches.

Chelsea will also be without Ben Chilwell, who must wait anxiously for the results of a hamstring scan after injuring it late in the victory over Dinamo.

The left-back is now a significant question for England’s World Cup campaign, which begins on November 21 with a game against Iran in Group B.

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Chelsea midfielder Denis Zakaria scored on his debut as the Blues ended their Champions League Group E campaign with a 2-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, winning the group and ending the Croatians’ European campaign.

Chelsea finished the group stage with 13 points, three more than runners-up AC Milan, who defeated third-placed Red Bull Salzburg 4-0. Dinamo finished last with four points, two points behind Salzburg.

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Edouard Mendy, starting for the first time under Graham Potter, got off to a terrible start when, seven minutes after Bruno Petkovic gave the visitors the lead with a header, he had to pluck the ball out of the Chelsea net.

Raheem Sterling took advantage of Dino Peric’s slip 11 minutes later to cut inside and score with his left foot to bring Chelsea back to even.

The Switzerland international Zakaria gave the Blues the lead on the half-hour mark with a brilliantly placed shot in his first game since coming on loan from Juventus on September 1. Mason Mount had done well to set up the chance.

In a worrying moment for England boss Gareth Southgate, Chelsea fullback Ben Chilwell pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury in second-half injury time, hopping towards the dressing room helped by medical staff as the game finished 2-1.

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Brighton finally claimed its first win under their new manager against Chelsea. The Seagulls left the Blues shocked as they fought their way to a 4-1 victory to spoil Graham Potter’s return at Falmer Stadium on Saturday.

Graham Potter’s return to Brighton ended in disaster as Chelsea lost their first game under his leadership, losing 4-1 at the Amex Stadium.

It was a first half worthy of Halloween weekend as a litany of errors saw the Blues deservedly 3-0 down at the break.

Brighton put pressure on Chelsea early and took the lead after five minutes. Leandro Trossard was in close proximity when Thiago Silva’s terrible pass, which wasn’t the first he had made in the game, bounced off of him.

It landed into Premier League debutant Kaoru Mitoma, who drove into the area and skipped over the Chelsea shirts before finding Trossard.

For his fifth goal under the new manager, Roberto De Zerbi, the Brighton attacker then hoisted the ball over the approaching Kepa Arrizabalaga. Additionally, it was the first time the Seagulls had ever led Chelsea in a Premier League match.

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Chelsea continued to be the architects of their own demise nine minutes later when Brighton scored their second goal. In a flurry of corners, Solly March delivered a fine effort which a rooted Ruben Loftus-Cheek turned into his own net.

The third goal for Brighton was also an own goal. Pervis Estupinian was beautifully connected to by Moises Caciedo down the left side of the area, and his cross into the six-yard box was converted by Trevoh Chalobah with his outstretched foot (42), leaving Potter in the opposing dugout appalled.

Early in the second half, Chelsea scored to give them the exact answer they needed. Kai Havertz nodded Conor Gallagher’s wonderful, sweeping cross into the goal (48).

Despite Chelsea’s dominance in the second half, Brighton added a late fourth goal to give Pascal Gross 50 goals for the team. To cap off a successful afternoon for the Seagulls, Gross was there to smash the ball home (90+2) after Julio Enciso forced two saves from second-half substitute Edouard Mendy.

The result marked the first time Brighton has beaten Chelsea in league football, as well as De Zerbi’s first win as Seagulls manager. It sends Brighton into seventh with 18 points.

However, Chelsea stays in fifth ahead of the remaining games this weekend.

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