Chelsea had the chance to land Girona keeper before he ended up in Spain. But, a paperwork snag ended the deal before it even began.
Girona keeper opens about his failed Chelsea move
Chelsea almost secured a promising goalkeeper before he made his way to La Liga in 2024. The West London club is currently relying on Robert Sanchez as their No. 1.
The Blues had an opportunity to bring in Ukrainian talent Vladyslav Krapyvtsov after his release from SC Dnipro-1’s academy. Things looked set for a free transfer. But, the move collapsed at the final stage due to PL regulations and incomplete documentation.
Both Chelsea and Arsenal were reportedly in the mix for the youngster’s signature. But, neither could finalize the deal. The keeper later confirmed in an interview that the issues came down to “document problems.” That issue stopped his PL dream from happening.
While Sanchez holds the gloves for the Blues, he’s been under scrutiny this season. That only makes the failed signing sting more. Chelsea had the chance to reshape their goalkeeping future with a talented 20-year-old who’s now making his mark abroad.
Keeper’s new chapter in Spain
Now at Girona, Krapyvtsov has already featured in La Liga. He is showing the potential Chelsea once had within reach. Without any issues, the Spanish club is giving him his chance and he has already put in two excellent performances this season. The Chelsea goalkeepers, however, are still an issue.
But, the keeper does not seem set for a return to Chelsea’s radar anytime soon. The Blues will continue scanning Europe for their next big name between the sticks. But, this one might go down as another ‘what could’ve been’ story in the club’s transfer history.
Author’s Opinion:
Chelsea’s scouting team spotted Krapyvtsov early, but paperwork delay cost them a future prospect. For a club of their size, slip-ups like this shouldn’t happen. That is especially when the search for a dependable goalkeeper is still ongoing.
As featured on Chelseanews.com
