Chelsea have agreed a £25 million deal with Brighton to sign Robert Sanchez. The deal includes £5 million in bonuses, with £20 million to be paid upfront. Personal terms were never an issue for the player, who was keen on the move.
Medical tests will now be held for the transfer, and it will be confirmed by the club once the formalities have been completed. Sanchez will be competing with Kepa Arrizabalaga for the number one role at Chelsea. Mauricio Pochettino has both Spaniards at his disposal, with Kepa currently the first-choice due to his ball-playing abilities.
However, Sanchez will be reunited with former Brighton goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts who is now at Chelsea. And that could help him rediscover his form at Stamford Bridge.
Robert Sanchez joins Chelsea from Brighton
This past season, Sanchez made 25 Premier League appearances but lost his place to Jason Steele. As a result, there are doubts over whether he could be the first-choice keeper at Chelsea or simply a backup option following the departure of Edouard Mendy. He came through the Brighton academy, but will now be leaving his boyhood club for a new challenge in the English capital.
Chelsea’s young goalkeeper Gabriel Slolina is also set to leave on loan to Belgian side KAS Eupen for the coming season. Which leaves two options for Pochettino to choose from ahead of the coming season.
Although the West London club moved fast to complete the deal for Robert Sanchez, they have been stuck in negotiations for weeks with Brighton for Moises Caicedo. Multiple bids have been rejected with the club demanding £100 million, which Chelsea are not willing to pay as of now.
