Chelsea announce his contract with Senegalese goalkeeper Mendy from Rennes

Chelsea FC announced today that it has signed a contract with Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from Rennes, in a five-year deal valued at 22 million pounds (28 million dollars), according to reports.

The Senegalese international will compete for a place in the starting line-up with Spaniard Kepa Arisabalaga, who has been providing unconvincing levels since his arrival at Stamford Bridge in 2018.

Mendy became the club's seventh deal this summer after the arrival of the Germans Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, Moroccan Hakim Ziyech, defenders Ben Chilwell, Brazilian Thiago Silva and Frenchman Malang Sarr.

"I am very excited to join Chelsea. It is a dream for me to be part of this team and work with Frank Lampard and all of his coaching staff," Mendy, 28, said.

"I look forward to meeting my colleagues and I am eager to start."

The tall (1.96 m) goalkeeper succeeded in maintaining a clean sheet nine times in 24 matches in the French League last season, where he contributed to Rennes occupying third place and reaching the club's Champions League for the first time in its history.

Although he was born in France, Mendy chose to represent Senegal at the international level.

"As soon as (the former Czech goalkeeper) Petr Cech (technical advisor) and our technical team had classified Edward as the most suitable goalkeeper to complete our current group, we wanted to include him immediately," said Russian club director Marina Granovskaya.

"Edouard arrives after a very successful season with Rennes. He has ambitions to do more," she added.

Kepa, 25, who cost the "Blues" 72 million pounds in 2018 for joining him from Athletic Bilbao, has made many mistakes since his arrival, as Lampard kept him twice on the bench last season, sharing his place, 38-year-old Willy Caballero.

His last mistake was last week against Liverpool at the top of the second stage of the Premier League, when he dispersed a wrong ball that was caught by Senegalese Sadio Mane, scoring the second goal of the England champion.

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