In September 2020, Chelsea Football Club made the signing of Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from Stade Rennes in France for approximately $27 million. At this time the struggles of Kepa Arrizabalaga forced the hand of the London-based club and Mendy seemed to be the answer.

During the 2020/2021 season for Mendy, the shot-stopper was sensational keeping 16 clean sheets in 31 games more than a ratio of 1:2. Through that season as well he conceded only 25 goals which had him being hailed as one of the world’s best goalkeepers.

The 31-year-old became the first goalkeeper since the great Petr Cech to keep clean sheets in his first three Premier League games, a record held since 2004. In the same season, Mendy was pivotal to Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League victory in May over Manchester City, becoming the first African goalkeeper to play in a Champions League final since Bruce Grobbelaar in 1985. Everything was going great for the African, also equaling the most clean sheets in a single Champions League campaign (9), and also finished 2nd in the Yashin award for World’s Best Goalkeeper behind Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The next season was more of the same for Mendy on a personal level while contributing heavily to bringing Chelsea to a UCL placing in the league. Then it all went downhill from there.

In May of 2022, Chelsea was acquired by American Todd Boehly after a conflict over former owner Roman Abramovic and his ties to Russia during the invasion of Ukraine, Boehly sacked Thomas Tuchel and appointed Graham Potter from Brighton and Mendy couldn’t get a look in.

Reports then surfaced that the Senegalese player wanted a renewed contract, but at more lucrative terms that Chelsea was unwilling to give him. Injuries then plagued him, making it even more time out of the number one spot in the team.

How funny is life? From heading to the unemployment office in 2014 to being on top of the world, having people chant your name, the love of a city and a country, to now is known as a benchwarmer, second to a goalie who is a mistake away from being a meme long term. Does Mendy have a chance to regain his spot? Not likely as he may be moved on in the summer.