Chelsea make BIZARRE decision on summer goalkeeper transfer

Tom Weber

Updated: 28 Feb 2025 17:21 GMT
3 min read

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Chelsea will not sign a new goalkeeper in the summer and could have as many as four players competing for the No.1 shirt next season.

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The Blues' goalkeeping department has given the club headaches for years. World-record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga never justified his price tag, Edouard Mendy was not always convincing and Robert Sanchez has been dropped by two head coaches for his repeated mistakes.

After putting his faith in the Spaniard all season, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was recently forced to give up on Sanchez. Summer signing Filip Jorgensen was put between the sticks in his stead, but he too came under scrutiny for a game-deciding mistake against Aston Villa.

In the wake of the Dane's blunder, the conversation surrounding Chelsea's goalkeeper options has gone into overdrive. Transfer links to potential targets have emerged, while it was rightly pointed out that the Blues have a more-than-capable shot-stopper out on loan at Strasbourg.

Djordje Petrovic, who claimed the No.1 spot from Sanchez under Mauricio Pochettino, has been brilliant in Ligue 1 after being axed by Maresca for not being good enough in possession.

Chelsea make goalkeeper decision

Now, Chelsea have come to a firm decision on what to do about their goalkeeper department in the summer. According to a host of journalists, who have all seemingly been briefed by the club on this matter, the Blues will not dip into the market to sign a goalkeeper in the next window.

In fact, Chelsea could have as many as four options fighting for the starting role in pre-season. In addition to Jorgensen and Sanchez, the Blues will welcome Petrovic back to Cobham while Mike Penders will join from Genk.

Penders was signed for a whopping €20 million last summer - after just two senior appearances - and is highly rated by the club, although it is not expected that he will immediately supplant the more established players.

Intriguingly, Ben Jacobs states that Petrovic could be set for a pay rise upon his return, which seems mind-boggling considering that Chelsea's hierarchy collectively deemed him surplus to requirements just a year earlier.

Petrovic has admitted that he still dreams of reclaiming his starting spot for Chelsea. But it begs the question, if Maresca felt he wasn't good enough for his style of play after almost a full pre-season last year, will a second look really change his mind?