Paris: Edouard Mendy joined Al-Ahli on Wednesday because the Senegal goalkeeper changed into the 3rd participant to depart Chelsea for Saudi Arabia because the finish of the season.
Mendy is reported to have value Al-Ahli round £16 million ($20 million) after he opted to depart the Premier League membership having misplaced his position to Kepa Arrizabalaga in the second one part of remaining time period.
“Welcome Mendy… absolute best goalkeeper on the planet,” Al-Ahli posted on social media accompanied via a video clip of the 31-year-old placing pen to paper on his contract.
“Having began his profession within the decrease tiers of French soccer – or even spending a number of months and not using a membership – Mendy rose to the top of Ecu soccer with Chelsea,” a observation on Chelsea’s site stated.
“A massively likeable personality off and on the pitch, he’s going to at all times have a spot in our historical past for his important contributions to our 2021 Champions League triumph.
“For that, and for the entirety else, we’re thankful. Just right good fortune, Edou!”
Mendy helped Chelsea win the Champions League in 2021, however performed handiest as soon as for the membership after coming back from the International Cup in Qatar remaining 12 months.
He fell out of favour following Thomas Tuchel’s sacking as Chelsea supervisor in September, along with his successor Graham Potter after which period in-between boss Frank Lampard each who prefer to make use of Kepa in function.
It used to be a surprise fall from grace for a participant named UEFA’s goalkeeper of the season and FIFA’s absolute best male goalkeeper in 2021.
Mendy joins former International Cup winner N’Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly in swapping Stamford Bridge for golf equipment within the Saudi Skilled League, with the pair having joined Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal respectively.
Hakim Ziyech, every other Chelsea participant set to depart this summer time, could also be understood to be getting ready to transferring to the Gulf state after a deal used to be struck for him to enroll in Al-Nassr.
The Blues are desperate to transparent as many in their undesirable gamers out as conceivable earlier than June 30 in order that the gross sales can also be incorporated in monetary accounts for 2022/23.
The hot wave of Ecu gamers lured to Saudi Arabia via the promise of enormous salaries used to be began via Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer from Manchester United to Al Nassr in January.
Ronaldo’s former Actual Madrid teammate Karim Benzema has joined Kante at Al-Ittihad after the France striker unusually opted to give up the Spanish giants.
Ultimate week, Ruben Neves, the 26-year-old Portuguese world, left Wolves for Al-Hilal.