Chelsea have agreed a season-long loan deal for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to join Serie A side Como. The verbal agreement, reported by The Athletic, comes just days after Chelsea completed the £7.5 million signing of Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa.
New manager Xabi Alonso now has his goalkeeper group settled for the campaign. Belgium international Mike Penders will serve as the primary competition for Martinez, with 23-year-old Teddy Sharman-Lowe as the third-choice option. This move ends Sanchez's three-year spell at Stamford Bridge, where he made 104 appearances after joining from Brighton for £25 million in 2023.
Why is Sanchez leaving Chelsea?
Sanchez's departure follows a clear decision by the club to upgrade the position. The Spanish goalkeeper had periods out of the first team in each of his campaigns at Chelsea, often due to inconsistent form. His last appearance came in the opening Premier League match of the season, a 3-2 win over Fulham where he was at fault for at least one of the opposition's goals.
He was subsequently left out of the matchday squad for Chelsea's next two fixtures. Martinez started Sunday's dramatic 4-3 victory over Brighton, a result that leaves Chelsea third in the Premier League with six points from two wins. Sanchez was not involved. Earlier this month, Alonso had stated he was happy with Sanchez and Penders as his main options, but the manager never confirmed Sanchez as the established number one.
What did Sanchez achieve at Chelsea?
Sanchez's time in West London was not without success. He was the starting goalkeeper for the side that won the FIFA Club World Cup last year. Sanchez kept a clean sheet in the final, a 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain. That trophy remains a highlight of his 104-game Chelsea career, which now concludes with this loan move to Italy.
He will join former Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah at Como. Chalobah completed a £25 million move to the Italian club earlier in August. The loan provides Sanchez with a fresh start and regular playing time in a top European league.
How does this affect Chelsea's squad?
The goalkeeper situation is now resolved, allowing Alonso to focus on other areas. The squad is currently dealing with several absences, with Jordan Henderson, Enzo Fernández, and Marco Palestra all sidelined. You can track their recovery status on our injuries page.
Chelsea's strong start sees them with seven goals scored and five conceded, giving them a +2 goal difference. They face a significant test in their next match, an away fixture against rivals Arsenal on September 6th. Arsenal currently sit ninth in the table. The full schedule is available on our fixtures page.
With the transfer window closing, this loan represents a key piece of squad management. Sanchez's wages are off the books and he gains valuable experience, while Chelsea move forward with Martinez as their new first-choice goalkeeper. The team's early league position can be followed on our standings page. Chelsea travel to the Emirates Stadium on September 6th for their next Premier League encounter.
