Chelsea goalkeeper Eduoard Mendy has agreed terms to join Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli in a two-year deal, as the club officially announced today.
The Senegal international joins the likes of N’golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaby, and Hakim Ziyech, whose signing is lurking in the Arabian Gulf.
In this summer transfer window, Chelsea has transacted business with Saudi Arabia as Mendy becomes the third successful transfer from Stamford Bridge, which has raised enough revenue for the Blues after they spent a whopping £600 million on new signings after Todd Boehly took over from Roman Abramovic.
Mendy joined Chelsea from French Ligue 1 side Rennes for £22 million in 2020. After signing the contract, he became the team’s No. 1 goalkeeper, ahead of Kirpa Arrizabalaga.
He clinched the Champions League silverware for the Blues after keeping a clean sheet in the final at the Estadio do Dragao, Porto, in 2021. He was also pivotal in the lifting of the Club World Cup. And finally conquered Africa after saving Mohanad Lasheen’s penalty, which gave Senegal the chance to become African Champions.
Mendy added a few honors to his name following his tremendous performance for both club and country. He was named the UEFA Goalkeeper of the 2021 season, the Best FIFA Men’s Keeper for 2021, and the Goalkeeper of the Tournament for the 2022 African Cup of Nations.
The 31-year-old kept nine clean sheets in the Champions League 2020–2021, which is a feat as he is the only goalkeeper to set that record in his first debut in the Champions League.
He came second in the voting for the Africa’s Men Player of the Year Award 2022 in Morocco and is the first goalkeeper to make it to the top 3 since 2014.
Mendy has kept 49 clean sheets out of his 105 appearances in all competitions for the Blues since he joined the club. In his debut season at Stamford Bridge, he kept an impressive 16 clean sheets, leading the team to 17 league victories.
Unfortunately, Mendy closed the season as a second-choice goalkeeper after Kepa Arrizabalaga. He leaves the club for Saudi Arabia after new manager Mauricio Pochettino added him to the list of squad members he is offloading at the club.
Al Ahli got promoted to the Saudi Pro League ahead of the 2023–2024 season after winning the Saudi First Division League title last season.