Dorde Petrovic: The Keeper in Demand - and Why Everyone Wants Him

If you watched much of RC Strasbourg last season, you’d have seen Dorde Petrovic. And most importantly, you would have seen how many times he kept the French side out of trouble last season.

The Serbian international keeper stands at 6ft 4in and already has over 200 career appearances at the age of 24. But when he was sent out on loan by his parent club Chelsea last summer, nobody thought he would end up being one of the best keepers in Ligue 1.

And with rumours of Sunderland and Bournemouth both sniffing around the in-demand keeper, it may not be long before he’s on the move again.

Player Profile

In his first full season at RC Strasbourg, Đorđe Petrović was a wall. Over the past 365 days, he posted a save percentage of 78.9%, ranking in the 98th percentile among goalkeepers in Europe’s top leagues.

Petrovic must be our number 1 next season. He’s improved SO SO much!!

— 🎈 (@CFC_Decatio) March 28, 2025

Petrovic also kept 10 clean sheets and conceded just 38 goals in 33 games, as he helped Strasbourg achieve a commendable 7th place and qualify for Europe for the first time since the 2019/20 season, when they won the Coupe de la Ligue.

But it’s not just the shot-stopping numbers that set the Serbian keeper apart—it’s the way he embodies the modern goalkeeper.

In today’s game, reflexes alone aren’t enough. At the top level, you need to be comfortable with the ball at your feet, able to build play under pressure. Petrović fits the mould.

He ranks in the 99th percentile for touches per 90 minutes (53.13), and his passing has also taken a major leap—up from 632 completed passes last season to 1,244 this year—evidence of both trust from the back line and his own growing confidence in possession.

Djordje Petrović is the GK with the most completed passes in Europe's top 5 Leagues.

And 2nd best at preventing goals. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nLdb0XMY7L

— Chelsea Stats (@ChelseaYW_) March 29, 2025

On the move?

There is no doubt that RC Strasbourg's number 1 has garnered major interest from clubs around the Premier League. It has been reported by Sacha Tavolieri that both Sunderland and Bournemouth have bid £25 million in hopes of snapping up the young keeper.

Bournemouth have matched Sunderland's bid for Djordje Petrovic (25), according to @sachatavolieri. https://t.co/hqgPyTiLDi

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) July 8, 2025

Despite Petrovic's age, he has already played at five different clubs. Most of his time was spent at FK Cukaricki, but he has also played for New England Revolution, FK IMT, and, of course, Chelsea and Strasbourg. The question now is whether a new club will win the race for his signature or if Chelsea will decide to bring him back into the fold.

Sunderland

For the first time since the 2016/17 season, Sunderland are back in the top division of English football. A traditional force of the English game, they have won six league titles—the seventh most in history.

The Black Cats are in for a tough return to the Premier League. After narrowly scraping through the play-offs, they currently sit @1.25/1 on Coral to go straight back down.

Their current keeper, Anthony Patterson, has solidified himself between the sticks, playing 183 times in the past seven seasons, but it is no doubt that Petrovic could be a stark upgrade.

Bournemouth

On the flip side to Sunderland, over the past ten years, Bournemouth have gone from minnows to mainstream in the Premier League. Despite a relegation in the 2019/20 season, the Cherries finished on 56 points last campaign, their best ever.

Last season, their first-choice goalkeeper was Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was on loan from Chelsea. He has since completed a £5 million move to Arsenal. That leaves Neto as the current No.1—but his future is uncertain, especially given that he spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Arsenal himself.

A £25 million signing would be risky, but it could lead them to new heights.

Chelsea and RC Strasbourg

There is no doubt that Chelsea will be looking at Petrovic as an option for their new first-team goalkeeper. Despite winning the Conference League and finishing fourth, both Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen failed to impress between the sticks.

RC Strasbourg will, of course, be hopeful of keeping hold of their loanee, but a £25 million purchase would represent a club-record signing. Securing Petrovic permanently would be a huge statement as they look to bolster their squad ahead of next season.

No matter where Petrovic ends up next season, there’s no doubt he has the quality to carry on his form and elevate any club he joins. Whether it’s a return to Chelsea, a record move to Strasbourg, or a Premier League switch that thrusts him into the spotlight—one thing is clear: Petrović’s rise is only just beginning.