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. Mendy conceded just
twice in seven knockout matches – and those goals were unstoppable volleys
by Porto forward Mehdi Taremi and Karim Benzema of Real Madrid.
The Senegal international registered nine Champions League clean sheets in
2020/21, a feat achieved by no other goalkeeper in their debut season in
Europe’s elite club competition.
Those performances resulted in Mendy being named UEFA Champions League
Goalkeeper of the Season, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, and helped him to
second place in the voting for the Yashin Trophy, an award that recognises
the game's top stoppers. He became only the second goalkeeper in Chelsea
history to be shortlisted for that honour.
Mendy’s second campaign at Stamford Bridge brought more success. We won the
UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, the second of those coming just days
after he had been the hero for Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final,
saving the decisive spot-kick in the penalty shootout.
Mendy kept 23 clean sheets for Chelsea during the 2021/22 season, including
in both domestic finals. He also kept five consecutive shutouts in Champions
League home fixtures, a first by a goalkeeper of an English club.
His 30th clean sheet for the Blues came in his 54th appearance. Only Petr
Cech reached that figure in fewer matches.
Mendy’s minutes were limited last term, but he did pass the 100-game
barrier. In total, he featured 105 times for Chelsea and 49 of those games
ended with a clean sheet.
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!
https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/mendy-moves-on