‘Never imagined’… 24-year-old Chelsea player admits Stamford Bridge move was a shock

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It is probably fair to say that Djordje Petrovic did not expect to join Chelsea during the summer.

Chelsea signed Djordje Petrovic from MLS side New England Revolution in a £14m deal (Sky Sports).

And the 24-year-old has now told the club’s official website that he never imagined that he would end up at Stamford Bridge.

Petrovic has had to be patient, with the Serbian behind Robert Sanchez in the goalkeeper pecking order. However, the latter recently picked up an injury, allowing the former to come into the team.

Petrovic has not done too bad in between the sticks either, saving a spot kick in a penalty shootout against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals to knock them out. He was hailed as “unbelievable” by team-mate Armando Broja after his heroics in that game.

Djordje Petrovic shocked by Chelsea move

Petrovic did not think getting a move from America to Europe was impossible, but he was certainly surprised when Chelsea came in for him.

Speaking about his switches to New England Revolution and then his current club, the Serbia international said: “I heard it would be very hard to get visas for my family. What if covid came back? I had never been to America. I heard the USA is a different world.

“But it was a good opportunity. I wanted to change something, to try something new. I heard good things about Boston, a nice city to live. And I saw [Matt] Turner, the former goalkeeper they sold to Arsenal. They sent me the offer after that.

“I saw they could sell a goalkeeper to Arsenal. It made me think I could do something similar and come back to Europe. But honestly, I never imagined Chelsea!”

Chelsea fans did not imagine the club signing Djordje Petrovic either

Chelsea supporters also would not have predicted the club bringing in Petrovic. Most people probably did not know who he even was at the time.

However, after Kepa Arrizabalaga’s decision to join Real Madrid on loan, the Blues needed to bring in another goalkeeper. Robert Sanchez alone was not enough for Mauricio Pochettino.

Following the 26-year-old’s injury, Chelsea adding Petrovic to their squad is now starting to look like an even wiser call.