Coach Bruce Arena has plenty of wonderful players at his disposal but without a doubt, the big star and one that gathers the most attention is Serbian goalkeeper Djordge Petrovic. The 23-year-old player is New England Revolution’s top asset and as such, plenty of teams want to boost their roster by signing him.
However, it seems that the Blues from London are the closest one to a deal with Djordge Petrovic. You can find more exclusive details about it on our website. It seems that Chelsea have prepared an MLS-record £12.5m plus £1.5m in add-ons. No other Major League Soccer has ever recorded such a massive transfer income, so we should really give coach Arena credit for getting the most out of his Serbian goalkeeper.
The 2023 campaign is Djordge Petrovic’s second season with New England Revolution. So far, he has 21 games with the team, whilst he recorded another 22 in the 2022 MLS season.
Ever since Kepa Arrizabalaga swapped London for Madrid, coach Mauricio Pochettino was in dire need of another top-notch goalkeeper. First, it was Brighton’s Robert Sanchez who strengthened Chelsea’s starting 11 on a whopping €23.0m deal and now, we have American businessman Todd Boehly eyeing Petrovic. Is the Serbian goalkeeper worth it?
Will the Serbian be the Blues’ number one?
If we are to judge Robert Sanchez’ and Djordge Petrovic’s transfers solely by financial weight, we could definitely make the assumption that the Serbian will be the backup in this internal rivalry for starting position under Pochettino’s rule. Robert Sanchez cost Todd Boehly a whopping €23.0m while Djordge Petrovic came a couple of million cheaper.
Furthermore, Robert Sanchez is an established name in English football. The 25-year-old Spanish goalkeeper has made a name for himself defending Brighton’s jersey since 2018, despite being loaned out to Forest Green Rovers and Rochdale in two of those years.
However, Robert Sanchez was a force to be reckoned with during the 2022/23 Premier League season. He was one of the key reasons why the Seagulls reached the Europa League, as he conceded only 53 goals in 38 league games.
Unlike Sanchez, Petrovic will need time to adjust to his new surroundings in the most competitive football league on the planet, so chances are Djordge isn’t going to be either first choice for Pochettino nor will he wear the #1 on his back.
Is Djordje Petrovic worth Chelsea’s money?
When you spend £14.0m on a goalkeeper, you surely see him as one that can bring stability at the back. £1.5m of those are performance-related bonuses, which will definitely be paid as Petrovic is indeed a solid goalkeeper.
If we are to look at how New England Revolution are performing in Major League Soccer, we’d see that coach Bruce Arena’s side currently ranks 2nd in the Eastern Conference, with only 28 goals conceded. The only other teams with defensive records sturdier than New England Revolutions’ are Dallas, New York Red Bulls, and 2022 MLS Cup finalists Philadelphia Union.
Djordge Petrovic is the culprit to blame for New England’s success and you could definitely say that paying £14.0m for a goalkeeper of his caliber will pay off in the long run. Seeing as he’s only 23 years old, Petrovic has his entire career in front of him. Sooner or later, he’ll get the required chances to prove himself and possibly earn a starting position.
