Official: Édouard Mendy Completes Permanent Move To Al Ahli From Chelsea

In a confirmed transfer deal, Édouard Mendy has officially joined Al Ahli from Chelsea, solidifying his move to the Saudi Arabian club.

The fee for the transfer is reported to be around £16/17 million. The 31-year-old goalkeeper, who played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s Champions League victory in 2021, will be remembered for his exceptional performances throughout the tournament.

Mendy conceded only two goals in seven knockout matches, both of which were unstoppable volleys by Porto’s Mehdi Taremi and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema. His impressive display resulted in nine clean sheets during the 2020/21 Champions League campaign, a remarkable achievement for a goalkeeper making his debut in Europe’s elite club competition.

Recognizing his outstanding performances, Mendy was awarded the UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, and finished in second place in the Yashin Trophy voting, which honors the top goalkeepers in the game. He became only the second goalkeeper in Chelsea’s history to be shortlisted for this prestigious accolade.

Mendy continued his success in his second season at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea clinched the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup titles. Just days before his heroics in the Club World Cup, he played a crucial role in Senegal’s victory in the Africa Cup of Nations final, saving the decisive penalty in the shootout.

Throughout the 2021/22 season, Mendy maintained an impressive record of 23 clean sheets for Chelsea, including in both domestic finals. Additionally, he achieved a noteworthy feat by keeping five consecutive clean sheets in Champions League home fixtures, a first for a goalkeeper representing an English club. He reached his 30th clean sheet for the Blues in his 54th appearance, a milestone only previously achieved by Petr Cech in fewer matches.

Although his minutes were limited last season, Mendy surpassed the 100-game mark for Chelsea, featuring in a total of 105 matches, 49 of which concluded with a clean sheet.

Mendy’s journey to the pinnacle of European football is even more remarkable considering his start in the lower tiers of French football and enduring a period without a club. Known for his amiable personality both on and off the pitch, he will forever hold a special place in Chelsea’s history for his significant contributions to their triumphant 2021 Champions League campaign.