Chelsea has announced the signing of Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrović on a seven-year contract from Red Star Belgrade. The 21-year-old, who has been dubbed as the "new Peter Schmeichel" by some pundits, will join the Blues for a reported fee of £25 million.
Petrović has been one of the standout performers in the Serbian SuperLiga, helping Red Star win the domestic double last season. He also made his debut for the national team in March, keeping a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Ireland.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said he was delighted to secure the services of Petrović, who he described as a "talented and mature" keeper. "Djordje is a fantastic addition to our squad. He has shown great quality and consistency in his performances for Red Star and Serbia. He is young, but he has a lot of experience and potential. He will provide strong competition and support for our other goalkeepers," Tuchel said.
Petrović said he was excited to join Chelsea and play in the Premier League. "I am very happy and proud to sign for Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I have always dreamed of playing in England, and I can't wait to start working with my new teammates and coaches. I want to thank Red Star for everything they have done for me, and I hope to make them and the fans proud of me," Petrović said.
Petrović is Chelsea's third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of defender Ben White from Brighton and midfielder Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid. The Blues are also expected to complete the signing of striker Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan in the coming days.
