Transfer Centre

Edouard Mendy, Ethan Ampadu close to Chelsea exits?

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 23 June 2023

Chelsea duo Edouard Mendy and Ethan Ampadu are reportedly among the growing list of players set to leave the club, with the former close to joining Al-Ahli.

Edouard Mendy and Ethan Ampadu are reportedly edging close to exits from Chelsea, as the club goes through a summer overhaul.

Mendy lost his place in the Chelsea side to Kepa Arrizabalaga during the club's woeful 2022-23 campaign which saw them finish down in 12th.

Ampadu was loaned out for the fourth successive season, but suffered a second-straight Serie A relegation with Spezia, after going down with Venezia a year ago.

BBC Sport claims that Mendy is close to joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, becoming yet another in a long list of high-profile names moving to the Gulf state.

The 31-year-old made an instant impact at Stamford Bridge, initially replacing Kepa in the Chelsea goal, and winning FIFA's Best Goalkeeper award in 2021 after helping the side to Champions League glory over Manchester City.

However, Mendy has played just once for Chelsea since the new year - a 2-2 home draw with Nottingham Forest - making him one of the main players the club hope to cash in on as they look to balance the books after a winter spending spree.

N'Golo Kante in action for Chelsea on August 14, 2022 © Reuters

The Senegalese international will join N'Golo Kante in Saudi Arabia as his Chelsea teammate has joined Al-Ittihad, who have also confirmed the signing of Karim Benzema this summer.

Reports have also linked Kalidou Koulibaly and Hakim Ziyech with moves to Saudi Arabia in addition to Mendy and Kante, as Chelsea look to trim their squad ahead of next season.

Another member of the Chelsea squad set to leave is Ampadu, who will return to the club briefly after a loan spell with Spezia last season.

Despite suffering relegation in a playoff against Hellas Verona, Ampadu was a standout in the Spezia side, featuring regularly, including in wins over AC Milan and Inter Milan.

The 22-year-old remains a regular Welsh international too, earning 44 caps already in his young career, and with just one year left on his current deal at Stamford Bridge, the Evening Standard claims that he is attracting major interest from clubs in the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga.

Spezia's Ethan Ampadu and Bartlomiej Dragowski celebrate after the match on March 10, 2023 © Reuters

With his deal running down, Chelsea are willing to accept £12m for the versatile Ampadu, who has featured often in both defence and midfield.

Spezia were hopeful of keeping the Welshman at the club, but relegation to Serie B has ended any hopes of them keeping hold of Ampadu for another year.

With Exeter City set to receive 20% of any transfer deal that is struck, it is believed that Chelsea will be hoping for a sizeable sell-on fee themselves, given that Ampadu is set to depart for a low figure.