It sounds like Đorđe Petrović isn’t too interested in playing Chelsea’s goalkeeper games, and is instead hoping to find a stable situation in the next step of his career. Whatever the outcome of his search may be, it does not involve any sort of Club World Cup silliness with Chelsea’s six billion other goalkeepers.
According to a Telegraph exclusive, Chelsea were going to take Petrović along to the US, but he “asked to be left out” of the traveling squad in order to “focus on his future” — which is to say, find a team where he could be the starter (and remain the starter after winning said starting job fair and square). DJ’s place in the traveling squad was then taken by Gaga Slonina, so that works out well for him.
The report adds that the situation does remain amicable and professional between Chelsea and Petrović, and that “should [he] fail to secure a permanent move away”, he will “rejoin the squad for pre-season training in July”. That would be slightly awkward, and would likely result in another loan somewhere.
So that’s a bit of a shame, as I had been hoping that Petrović would get a chance to win the Chelsea job (again). He certainly seemed to have done well enough at Strasbourg to earn that opportunity ... but he probably saw the writing on the wall (it says “Bob’s your uncle”). Strasbourg are credited with transfer interest, which would at least keep him in the BlueCo system, but he might have grander opportunities in England or Europe, too.
Chelsea Fans should remember that the Best Performing GK in Europe this season was ours.
Djordje Petrovic at Strasbourg, 5th Best Save Percentage and 2nd Most Passes in Europe.
Last Goalkeeper Strasbourg had was Matz Sels, look at him now, Dorde will do the same. pic.twitter.com/AyogovWstl
— Zeno (@CFCZeno) June 10, 2025