Djordje Petrovic has admitted that while he initially hoped to stay in the Premier League, he is now happy and thriving at Strasbourg, reflecting positively on his move to the French club.
Petrovic joined Chelsea from MLS side New England Revolution in the summer of 2023 for a fee of £14 million, with high expectations for his future at the club.
The 25-year-old had to wait for his chance to feature in the Chelsea first team, making his debut in December 2023 as a substitute after regular goalkeeper Robert Sanchez picked up an injury.
Petrovic seized the opportunity, delivering strong performances in Sanchez’s absence. As the season progressed, he quickly became Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper, making 31 appearances across all competitions.
Under the management of Mauricio Pochettino, Petrovic played an instrumental role in helping the team finish in the Premier League’s top six.
However, the start of the 2024-25 season brought unexpected challenges for Petrovic. Manager Enzo Maresca decided to reinstate Sanchez as the club’s primary goalkeeper and further strengthened the squad by signing Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal.
As a result, Petrovic found himself surplus to requirements at Chelsea, leading to his loan move to Strasbourg, one of the club’s sister teams in Ligue 1.
Despite this setback, Petrovic remains positive about his future with Chelsea. At Strasbourg, he has made an immediate impact, playing in 11 matches and securing two clean sheets.
The club is currently in 14th place in Ligue 1, and Petrovic’s performances have shown that he is developing well, even if the club is still adjusting to their position in the league.
Reflecting on his move, Petrovic acknowledged that he had originally hoped to stay in the Premier League, but he quickly adapted to his new environment.
He expressed his satisfaction with the decision to join Strasbourg, stating, “I am very happy here in Strasbourg. It’s true I wanted to stay in the Premier League, but once I started working with the team and staff here, everything clicked right away. This move is not a mistake in my journey.”
Looking to the future, Chelsea faces a crucial decision about their goalkeeper situation, with both Petrovic and Sanchez vying for the starting spot.
Given Petrovic’s impressive form at Strasbourg, he could well prove to be an important asset for Chelsea in the coming seasons, potentially challenging for a place in the Blues’ first team once he returns to Stamford Bridge.
