Bournemouth | The Cherries have a new goalkeeper

Transfer News | Djordje Petrovic to Bournemouth 

Bournemouth have confirmed the signing of Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea for a fee of £25m

Author | Jack L

Petrovic joins his new club following the previous signings of Adrian Truffert from Rennes and Junior Kroupi, who spent the second half of the 24/25 season on loan at Ligue 1 side FC Lorient.

Petrovic told the Bournemouth website: “I’m really happy to be here. I came to Bournemouth because I want to grow and I want to play at the best level. Together with this club, with these facilities, I think we can achieve it. I want to help the team get the results, improve every day and be a better player.”

The history of Bournemouth’s new keeper

Petrovic joined Chelsea from Major League Soccer side New England Revolution in 2023 in a deal worth around £14m, but spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg. The 25-year-old impressed in France, where he was named player of the season after helping the club secure a seventh-place finish and qualification for the Europa Conference League.

Despite briefly claiming the number one spot at Chelsea under Mauricio Pochettino and making 23 appearances in the 2023–24 campaign, Petrovic was loaned out amid doubts over his ability to play out from the back. His distribution remained a point of discussion during his time in France. While his passing stats did not improve markedly, he still posted better numbers than Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, whose figures for pass accuracy and long distribution were lower. Backup keeper Filip Jorgensen ended the season with stronger metrics than both.

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Interest in Petrovic has grown significantly following his successful spell in Ligue 1. His standout performances in Strasbourg earned him a regular place in the Serbia national team, where he has now accumulated seven senior caps. He rose to prominence at home after saving a penalty in a tense World Cup qualifier against Albania, a match charged with political undertones, which earned him widespread praise and a reputation as something of a national hero.

German outlets have compared Petrovic to Manuel Neuer, citing similarities in their physical stature, comfort with the ball at their feet and distribution skills. His former coaches speak highly of his ability in one-on-one situations, command of the area and penalty-saving instincts, describing him as a physically imposing goalkeeper unafraid to come off his line.

Why have Chelsea let him go?

Before moving to Stamford Bridge, Petrovic was a relatively obscure figure even in his home country. But after a season in France, he established himself as one of the most reliable shot-stoppers in Europe. He prevented almost 10 more goals than an average keeper would have been expected to save, the sixth-best figure across Europe's top five leagues last season.

Chelsea’s decision to part with Petrovic appears to have been shaped by Robert Sánchez’s performances in cup competitions. The Spaniard played a key role in Chelsea’s Club World Cup triumph, claiming the Golden Glove award as the tournament’s best goalkeeper. With Sánchez now established as the club’s preferred option, and Jorgensen also providing depth, Chelsea have opted to cash in on Petrovic.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, will hope the arrival of the Serbian adds solidity between the posts as they look to push further up the Premier League table next season.