Edouard Mendy: Marina Granovskaia reveals Petr Cech’s role in identifying new Chelsea goalkeeper

Mendy joins from Rennes, the same club from where Chelsea plucked Cech from in 2004

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Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia has praised the influence of Petr Cech after the club confirmed their £22m deal for Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. 

The Blues have pursued new goalkeeping options throughout the window, with faith in club-record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga rapidly diminishing. 

Cech, who joined Chelsea from Rennes in 2004, has close ties to the French club and was decisive in identifying Mendy as the ideal replacement. 

“As soon as Petr Cech and our technical team identified Edouard as the most suitable goalkeeper to complement our existing group, there was only one player we wanted to bring in,” Granovskaia said upon the announcement. “Edouard arrives following a season of real success with Rennes, he is ambitious for more, and we welcome him to our club.”

Mendy’s arrival follows a spree of signings, with Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr all joining the Blues in a defining summer under Frank Lampard.

Mendy, who has been capped eight times by Senegal, said: “I am so excited to be joining Chelsea. It’s a dream for me to be a part of this exciting squad and to work with Frank Lampard and all of his coaching staff.  I look forward to meeting my team-mates and can’t wait to get started.”

Mendy, 28, previously spent time at Cherbourg, Marseille and Reims and endured a difficult start to his professional career before finally making his Ligue One breakthrough.