Chelsea sign goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from Rennes for £22m on five-year deal
The 28-year-old becomes Chelsea’sseventh first-teamsigning of the summer following the arrivals of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr and Kai Havertz.
Mendy is following in the footsteps of Petr Cech – now Chelsea’s technical and performance adviser – who made the same move from Rennes to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2004.
The 28-year-old kept nine clean sheets in 24 Ligue 1 appearances last season with Rennes, helping them to finish third and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
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.”
On signing Mendy, 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.”
Mendy will compete with Kepa Arrizabalaga and Willy Caballero to be the club’s No 1.