Former Chelsea player John Obi Mikel has urged the Blues to sign a new goalkeeper this summer, despite Robert Sanchez’s heroics during the Club World Cup final on Sunday.
Chelsea’s Club World Cup triumph was a moment to savour, a crowning glory after a challenging season, and Sanchez delivered arguably his best performance in a Chelsea shirt on Sunday night as he made a string of sublime saves to help his side emerge 3-0 winners against the reigning UEFA Champions League winners.
Chelsea went into the tie as major underdogs, but a brace from Cole Palmer and a delightful finish from Joao Pedro earned Enzo Maresca’s team a famous victory at the MetLife Stadium.
Sanchez made six saves during the match and his heroics in between the sticks earned him the Golden Glove award, a prestigious recognition of his impact on Chelsea’s global success. But not everyone is convinced he should be the Blues’ undisputed No.1 heading into next season.
Speaking to DAZN after the win over PSG via The Chelsea Chronicle, Mikel Obi didn’t mince his words as he made a strong case for the club to bring in another top goalkeeper this summer, not necessarily to replace Sanchez outright, but to push him to a higher level.
“I still believe we do need a top, top goalkeeper,
“Robert Sanchez had a brilliant game today but going into the new season with the Champions League and the Premier League I think you still need another top goalkeeper that is going to come in and compete with him.”
It’s a brutally honest opinion that reflects both Mikel’s high standards and his experience of competing at the very top level with Chelsea during the club’s golden era.
While many fans were quick to applaud Sanchez for stepping up on the world stage, Mikel’s comments add a layer of realism: the demands of a Premier League and Champions League campaign require not just quality, but depth.
Sanchez endured an inconsistent 2024-25 campaign and he racked up the most errors leading directly to a goal of any player in the entire Premier League last term.
Although Mikel wants Chelsea to sign a new goalkeeper, the Blues appear unlikely to oblige as things stand. They were unwilling to match AC Milan’s €30 million valuation for Mike Maignan during the pre-Club World Cup window, while links with Lucas Chevalier and James Trafford have died down immensely over the past few weeks.
As a result, Sanchez looks set to retain his place as Chelsea’s number one, with Filip Jorgensen expected to be second-choice.
In an earlier update, Softfootball reported that Chelsea players has hailed Palmer after 3-0 win over PSG in Club World Cup finals. After demolishing the 2025 UEFA Champions League winners, PSG, Chelsea players could not hold back their thoughts after the game.
The players were full of praise of each other’s performance especially on Cole Palmer who starred in the game. Cole Palmer scored 2 and made one in the finals.
