Edouard Mendy: From unemployment to the next Petr Cech, Chelsea's new goalkeeper takes circuitous route to the top

At just about the same age that Kepa Arrizabalaga was taking on the burden of the heaviest price-tag ever attached to a goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy was, with a sigh of relief, removing his name from the register of France’s unemployed.

The goalkeeper Chelsea have identified as the solution to their pressing Kepa crisis could hardly have a more different backstory than the man he is earmarked to replace.

Mendy, who said farewell at the weekend to his teammates at Rennes, where his career had soared after some low points in his early 20s, is expected to confirm his move to Stamford Bridge imminently.

Chelsea have a goalkeeping problem, one that was all but openly acknowledged by the manager Frank Lampard after Arrizabalaga's errors in the two opening games of the Premier League season, the latest costing the second goal in the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

But the pursuit of Mendy is not a panicked reaction, a rushed recruitment near the end of a transfer window, to a sudden slump in form by Arrizabalaga, who cost over €80 million (Dh345m) from Athletic Bilbao in 2018.

The Senegal international goalkeeper has been on Chelsea’s radar for well over a year, recommended by Petr Cech, a totem between the posts for Chelsea for 11 seasons and now the club’s Technical and Performance Advisor. Cech, a former Rennes player, is an informed guide to Mendy’s talents and his suitability for English football, while Christophe Lollichon, the Chelsea goalkeeping coach and formerly in the same job at Rennes, has also sung the praises of Mendy.

Shortly after Mendy joined Rennes from Stade de Reims in the summer of 2019, Lollichon told L'Équipe of the six-foot-five Senegalese: "He is the best Rennes have had since Cech. He has all the assets of a modern keeper. He has the height, the agility and he's extremely proactive. He never hides from aerial challenges, will not panic when he receives the ball under pressure and he commands the space when his defensive line is set high up the pitch." Lollichon also predicted: "He's probably made for English football, one day."

Mendy himself was first told he was bound for England as long ago as 2013. He was 22, and his career had hit a setback. He had been playing for Cherbourg, in the third tier of French football, when the club were demoted for administrative irregularities. He was assured by his representatives that a move to England, probably to the Football League, was likely. It never materialised.

Mendy instead found himself queueing up at the job centre, unemployed. He kept up his football by training at Le Havre, close to his birthplace and to his parents’ home, where he had moved back.

Mendy had no competitive action for a year, a potentially damaging interruption in any career, and especially for a player in his early 20s, a key stage in professional development.

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Bale, Thiago and the top transfer moves in 2020/21

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By way of comparison, the precocious Arrizabalaga was established in the Athletic Bilbao side and had received his first call-up for Spain’s senior squad at the age of 22. Within 18 months he was making his Chelsea debut, having set that record-breaking transfer fee.

Mendy’s climb back up the ladder from his low point began at Olympique Marseille, who took him on, with a basic junior salary, as their fourth-choice keeper in 2014. He played just eight matches for the Marseille reserves that season - none for the first team - but benefited from expert coaching and regained his confidence.

"I really matured there and worked liked crazy," Mendy told L'Équipe. "My career path, with all the challenges, has made me the goalkeeper I am."

It was not until Mendy was 26 that he made his first appearance in France’s top division, having won promotion with Stade de Reims, who he joined from Marseille six summers ago.

A brilliant campaign in Ligue 1 earned his transfer to Rennes, for a modest €5m. By the time his debut season there was abandoned in March, because of the pandemic, he was last line of the joint-meanest defence in France’s top tier, and Rennes were on their way to celebrating a first qualification for the Champions League.

His international career was well under way, too, though that has been another slow-burner. Born in France to a father from Guinea-Bissau and a Senegalese mother, he turned out in an unofficial friendly for Guinea-Bissau before committing to Senegal. He went to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations as their first-choice but injury in the group stage kept him out of the rest of a tournament that finished with Senegal as runners-up.

Rennes will miss him, but wish him well. “He’s been a leader in the dressing room,” said Julien Stephan, the Rennes coach, “and a model professional.”

Episode list:

Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery

Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges

Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic

Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks

Ep5: Travel and tourism

Zayed Sustainability Prize

Clean water and solar homes: Zayed prize finalists present sustainability solutions

Youth take centre stage for this year's Zayed Sustainability Prize

Explained

Who are the bidoon?

Company profile

Company: Eighty6

Date started: October 2021

Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Hospitality

Size: 25 employees

Funding stage: Pre-series A

Investment: $1 million

Investors: Seed funding, angel investors

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UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

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Red Joan

Director: Trevor Nunn

Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova

Rating: 3/5 stars

Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Camelpox

Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.

Falconpox

Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.

Houbarapox

Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.	United States
2.	China
3.	UAE
4.	Japan
5	Norway
6.	Canada
7.	Singapore
8.	Australia
9.	Saudi Arabia
10.	South Korea

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Edouard Mendy: From unemployment to the next Petr Cech, Chelsea's new goalkeeper takes circuitous route to the top

Senegalese stopper has been signed after the continued struggles of Kepa Arrizabalaga - and the two players have experienced vastly different career paths

_______________

Bale, Thiago and the top transfer moves in 2020/21

_______________

Episode&nbsp;list:

Zayed Sustainability Prize

Explained

Company&nbsp;profile

Apple%20Mac%20through%20the%20years

Company%C2%A0profile

UAE v Gibraltar

Specs

Red Joan

Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

The%C2%A0specs%20

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Episode list:

Company profile