Chelsea star set to join PL rivals after failing to convince Enzo Maresca
According to latest report, Chelsea are set to part ways with Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, with Bournemouth closing in on a deal to bring the 25-year-old to the Vitality Stadium.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Cherries have submitted an official bid and are growing increasingly confident of sealing the transfer.
Sources close to the negotiations reveal that Petrovic has already agreed personal terms with Bournemouth, and the final approval from Chelsea is expected imminently. The Blues are believed to value the goalkeeper at around €30 million, a figure that Bournemouth appear willing to meet.
Petrovic joined Chelsea from New England Revolution in August 2023, arriving as a promising shot-stopper with a reputation for excellent reflexes and penalty-saving prowess.
However, his time at Stamford Bridge has not gone as planned. Opportunities were limited, and under head coach Enzo Maresca, the Serbian wasn’t given a chance to make a strong enough impression to be considered part of the long-term project.
Instead, Petrovic spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg in Ligue 1, where he enjoyed a highly successful campaign. His performances in France were nothing short of outstanding, earning him Strasbourg’s Player of the Season award and attracting attention from clubs across Europe.
Despite his form, the writing was on the wall when Petrovic was omitted from Chelsea’s squad for the FIFA Club World Cup, a clear indication that Maresca does not see him as a key figure moving forward.
For Chelsea, this move represents a chance to cash in on a player who has seen his value rise due to his performances abroad.
For Petrovic, it offers a fresh start in the Premier League, where he’ll likely compete for the No.1 spot at Bournemouth.
With Robert Sánchez and Filip Jörgensen expected to battle it out for Chelsea’s starting goalkeeper role next season, the path back into the first team was always going to be difficult for Petrovic.
It’s a bittersweet departure. Petrovic showed flashes of his potential, and many fans will feel he was never given a proper chance in blue.