Chelsea have completed the second major(?) signing of the summer by snapping up backup-to-the-backup goalkeeper Rob Green, who was a free agent (“unattached”, in non-American parlance) after being released in July by Huddersfield Town, where he had fulfilled the same role.
Chelsea FC has today completed the signing of Rob Green, who joins to provide backup for Thibaut Courtois and Willy Caballero... https://t.co/EzkhZxBHu6
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 26, 2018
The 38-year-old goalkeeper immediately becomes Chelsea’s oldest current player, and is actually closer to assistant goalkeeping coach Hilario in age (42) than any other first-team player bar the other backup goalkeeper, Willy Caballero (36). Certainly no lack of experience in that department!
Green, who’s from Surrey where Chelsea’s training ground is located, came up through the Norwich City academy and went on to represent the Canaries over 200 times — 241 to be exact. He added another 241 games exactly to his belt in the colors of West Ham United before spending a few years at QPR and then one at Leeds United, where he was still the starter at 36. He collected 12 England caps in the process as well, and as we’re contractually obliged to mention every time, he gave up a rather silly goal to Clint “Deuce” Dempsey at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It was probably all those vuvuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzelas.
Green signs a one-year deal with the Blues, providing a homegrown player for the third goalkeeper position, which means we don’t have to waste one of the 17 highly precious non-homegrown spots allowed in this manner.
“It has been a whirlwind 24 hours. You are thinking about your career and where you want to go and then you get a phone call like this, and it is a short conversation.
“It has been a pretty dramatic time for me and I can’t wait to get started. I am absolutely delighted and it is a thrill and an honour to be here.”
-Rob Green; source: Chelsea FC
One does wonder why this deal got done now, if all it took was 24 hours. Could Thibaut Courtois, despite his name being prominently featured in the announcement tweet, be finally on his way to Real Madrid? Green isn’t meant to be his replacement, obviously, but perhaps there is something afoot behind the scenes.
In any case, welcome, Rob Green! Let’s win some things ... (while you watch from the bench or the stands).