Robert Sánchez
Sánchez with Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022
Personal information
Full name Robert Lynch Sánchez[1]
Date of birth (1997-11-18) 18 November 1997[2]
Place of birth Cartagena, Spain
Height 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Chelsea
Number 1
Youth career
Escuela de Fútbol de Santa Ana
Cartagena FC
Ciudad Jardín
2010–2013 Levante
2013–2018 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2023 Brighton & Hove Albion 87 (0)
2018–2019 → Forest Green Rovers (loan) 17 (0)
2019–2020 → Rochdale (loan) 26 (0)
2023– Chelsea 16 (0)
International career‡
2021– Spain 2 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Spain
UEFA Nations League
Runner-up2021
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:31, 11 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:12, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

Robert Lynch Sánchez (born 18 November 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Chelsea and the Spain national team.

Club career

Early life and career

Sánchez was born in Cartagena, Region of Murcia.[1] He was born to a Jamaican-English father and Spanish mother.[3] He spent his early career playing locally with Escuela de Fútbol de Santa Ana, Cartagena FC and Ciudad Jardín[4] before joining Levante in 2010.[5]

Brighton & Hove Albion

Sánchez moved to England to sign for Brighton & Hove Albion at the age of 15, before signing his first professional contract in June 2015.[6][7] He signed a new three-year contract with the club in April 2018.[8]

Loan spells

In June 2018, Sánchez moved on loan to Forest Green Rovers for the 2018–19 season.[9] He played in the opening game of the season making his debut away at Grimsby where Rovers won 4–1.[10] Sánchez was recalled by parent club Brighton in January 2019 to provide cover as Albion's Mathew Ryan was called up for Australia for the Asian Cup.[11] He made 17 appearances for Forest Green that season, all coming in the league.[10]

On 24 July 2019, Sánchez joined Rochdale on loan for the 2019–20 season.[12] He made his debut for the club in a 3–2 away win over Tranmere Rovers.[13]

Return to Brighton

On 1 November 2020, Sánchez made his Brighton debut, playing in a 2–1 defeat in a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.[14][15] On 23 February 2021, Sánchez signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract with Brighton, running until June 2025.[16]

Sánchez was sent off in the 1–1 home draw against Newcastle United on 6 November, in Brighton's eleventh match of the 2021–22 season, for fouling Callum Wilson who was within a goalscoring opportunity.[17] He kept a clean sheet in the 4–0 win over Manchester United on 7 May 2022, helping Brighton earn their record top flight victory, with his long-range pass providing a crucial role in Pascal Groß's goal.[18]

In the second half of the 2022–23 season Sánchez lost his number one spot to long standing back-up keeper Jason Steele, with Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi saying that "he is sad for Robert" and that he has "one of the best relationships" with the player.[19] He was selected to play instead of Steele on 19 March, keeping a clean sheet in the 5–0 FA Cup quarter-final win over League Two side Grimsby at Falmer Stadium.[20] On 15 April, with Steele injured, Sánchez played against Chelsea in a 2–1 away win.[21] Eight days later he retained his place, keeping a clean sheet against Manchester United in 120 minutes of play in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, but failing to save a penalty in the eventual shootout loss.[22]

Chelsea

On 3 August 2023, it was reported that Brighton had agreed a transfer fee, with fellow Premier League club Chelsea, worth an initial £20 million, plus £5 million in add-ons, for Sánchez.[23][24] The transfer was completed on 5 August, with the player signing a seven-year contract.[25][26] On 8 August, Chelsea confirmed that he would wear the vacant number 31 shirt for the upcoming 2023–24 season.[27] On 13 August, he made his debut for the club in a 1–1 draw against Liverpool in the Premier League.[28] Following the departure of Kepa Arrizabalaga to Real Madrid, on 17 August, Sánchez opted to switch his shirt number to no.1.[29]

In October 2023, he was described by Karen Bardsley as possibly "Chelsea’s smartest signing" due to "the positive effect he's had on a team which is in transition".[30]

International career

Sánchez was born in Spain to an English father and Spanish mother.[31] Sánchez received his first call-up to the Spanish national team in March 2021, for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Greece, Georgia and Kosovo.[32]

He was selected to the Spain squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament in May 2021.[33] Sánchez and David de Gea remained as understudies to Unai Simón and did not make an appearance as Spain were knocked out on penalties against Italy in the semi-final at Wembley Stadium on 6 July.[34]

He made his international debut on 5 September 2021, replacing Simón in the second half of a World Cup qualifier 4–0 win against Georgia in Badajoz.[35]

Sánchez was part of Spain's 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals squad in October.[36] He remained as back-up and did not make an appearance in either of the semi-final victory over Italy or the final loss against France as Spain finished as runners-up.[37][38]

On 11 November 2022, Sánchez was named in Spain's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[39]

Style of play

Sánchez has said that he modelled himself on Spanish goalkeepers Iker Casillas and David de Gea.[7]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 10 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brighton & Hove Albion U21 2016–17[40] ———3[lower-alpha 1]030
2017–18[41] ———2[lower-alpha 1]020
Total ———5050
Brighton & Hove Albion 2018–19[10] Premier League 0000——00
2019–20[42] Premier League 00———00
2020–21[43] Premier League 2700000—270
2021–22[44] Premier League 3701000—380
2022–23[45] Premier League 2302000—250
Total 870300000900
Forest Green Rovers (loan) 2018–19[10] League Two 170000000170
Rochdale (loan) 2019–20[42] League One 260603000350
Chelsea 2023–24[46] Premier League 1600030—190
Career total 14609060501660
  1. 1 2 Appearances in EFL Trophy

International

As of match played 17 November 2022[47]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 202110
202210
Total20

Honours

Spain

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "Robert Sánchez: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Robert Sánchez: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  3. ↑ "Robert Sanchez - What is the deal?" – via www.youtube.com.
  4. ↑ Serrano, Rubén (2 November 2020). "El cartagenero Robert Sánchez debuta en la Premier League inglesa" [Cartagena's Robert Sánchez debuts in the English Premier League]. La Verdad (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "Robert Sánchez, de las categorías inferiores del Levante a la selección". ElDesmarque Valencia. 15 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "Profile". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  7. 1 2 Andy Naylor (12 July 2017). "Revealed: Everything you need to know about Brighton and Hove Albion's new kid on the block Robert Sanchez". The Argus. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  8. ↑ Andy Naylor (20 April 2018). "Albion keeper Robert Sanchez signs new contract". The Argus. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  9. ↑ "Robert Sanchez: Forest Green Rovers sign Brighton goalkeeper on loan". BBC Sport. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Robert Sanchez in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  11. ↑ "Robert Sánchez returns to Brighton". Forest Green Rovers F.C. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  12. ↑ "Robert Sanchez: Rochdale sign Brighton goalkeeper on loan". BBC Sport. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  13. ↑ "Tranmere 2–3 Rochdale". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  14. ↑ "Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 Brighton & Hove Albion: Gareth Bale scores his first goal since re–joining Spurs". BBC Sport. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "Sanchez says he only had 'good nerves' before Premier League debut". The Argus.
  16. ↑ "Sanchez signs new Brighton deal until June 2025". Sky Sports. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1 Newcastle United: Magpies fight back to draw as Eddie Howe watches from the stands". BBC Sport. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  18. ↑ "Brighton 4-0 Manchester United: Big defeat ends United's Champions League hopes". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "Jason Steele: From Sunderland Till I Die to Brighton's charge for Europe". 90 min. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "Wembley next as Albion cruise into FA Cup semi-finals". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  21. ↑ "Albion's super subs get European push back on track". Brighton & Hove Albion. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  22. ↑ "It's Wembley heartbreak as Albion are beaten on penalties". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  23. ↑ "Chelsea agree £25m deal for Brighton keeper Sanchez" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  24. ↑ "Chelsea agree deal to sign Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sánchez" – via The Guardian.
  25. ↑ "Sanchez seals Blues switch". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  26. ↑ "Robert Sanchez joins Chelsea". www.brightonandhovealbion.com. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  27. ↑ "Chelsea squad numbers confirmed for 2023/24 season". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  28. ↑ "Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool: Mauricio Pochettino's side fight back to draw his first Premier League game in charge". 13 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  29. ↑ "Sanchez moves squad number". www.chelseafc.com. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  30. ↑ "Why Sanchez could be Chelsea's smartest signing" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  31. ↑ "Cádiz CF: Robert Sánchez, el flamante portero que empezó de la mano de Jorge Cordero". La Voz Digital (in Spanish). 24 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  32. ↑ "Sanchez named in Spain squad". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  33. ↑ "Sergio Ramos left out of Spain's Euro 2020 squad". The Independent. 24 May 2021.
  34. ↑ "Euro 2020: Italy beat Spain on penalties to reach final – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 7 July 2021.
  35. ↑ "Robert Sánchez debuta con España". Mundo Deportivo. 5 September 2021.
  36. ↑ "Albion players in international action". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  37. ↑ "Italy 1–2 Spain: La Roja end Azzurri's long unbeaten run to reach Nations League final". BBC Sport. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  38. 1 2 "France beat Spain to become second Nations League winners". BBC Sport. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  39. ↑ "World Cup 2022: Laporte and Rodri in squad but Thiago and De Gea miss out". BBC Sport. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Robert Sanchez in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  41. ↑ "Games played by Robert Sanchez in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  42. 1 2 "Games played by Robert Sanchez in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  43. ↑ "Games played by Robert Sanchez in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Robert Sanchez in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  45. ↑ "Games played by Robert Sanchez in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  46. ↑ "Games played by Robert Sanchez in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  47. ↑ "Robert Sánchez". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  48. ↑ "Sanchez claims Castrol Save of the Month award". Premier League. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
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