Chelsea is close to finalizing a deal for New England Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic at up to £14 million ($18 million).
The 23-year-old is likely to undergo a medical in the coming days ahead of a move worth an initial £12.5 million plus an additional £1.5 million in add-ons.
Chelsea expects Petrovic to battle for the No. 1 slot alongside Robert Sánchez after allowing Kepa Arrizabalaga to join Real Madrid on loan and Edouard Mendy to leave for Al Ahli.
Petrovic has made 43 appearances for the Revolution, taking over for Matt Turner, who left the MLS last summer to join Arsenal before joining Nottingham Forest earlier this month.
Chelsea also signed American goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina from the Chicago Fire last summer, but he was loaned out again before agreeing to a temporary move to Belgian Pro League club K.A.S. Eupen this season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea will keep Petrovic in his first-team squad despite the fact that he only has Marcus Bettinelli (who is injured) and 20-year-old Lucas Bergstrom to depend on. Bergstrom served as Sanchez’s backup in Chelsea’s first two Premier League games against Liverpool and West Ham.
Chelsea’s spending this summer will top £340 million, an all-time high for any club in a single summer.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United confirmed on Tuesday that they have signed defender Lewis Hall on a season-long loan from Chelsea, with the option to make the move permanent based on performance-related criteria.
The 18-year-old full-back has been with Chelsea since he was eight years old. He made his senior debut for the club in January 2022 and has made a total of 12 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea.
Hall is Newcastle’s fifth edition of the summer window, and manager Eddie Howe is pleased to have him on board.
“He is a player we have tracked closely, as have a number of clubs, so it’s very pleasing to secure him and add a player of his quality, versatility, and high potential to our squad.”
The England under-21 international grew up in Newcastle and will wear the No. 20 jersey for his new club.
