I want to win trophies - Ex- Chelsea star defends Saudi move

Senegalese international goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has strongly refuted claims that his move to Saudi Arabia was solely driven by financial incentives.

He asserted that his decision to join Al-Ahli was motivated by the pursuit of silverware.

The 33-year-old, who departed Chelsea for Al-Ahli in a £16 million deal in 2023, recently added the Asian Champions League title to his impressive collection in May, making him one of the rare few to have won both that competition and its European equivalent.

However, like many high-profile players who have transitioned to the lucrative Saudi Pro League, Mendy has faced criticism for seemingly prioritising money over sporting prestige.

In an interview with BBC Africa, Mendy addressed the accusations head-on.

He said, "Al-Ahli's project came along, and they made me feel I had a big role to play. Two years later, we won the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. So yes, that validates my choice. And I hope the coming years will validate it even more."

He continued, "Some people will quickly jump to conclusions and say the only reason is money. From the start, I always said that when I left Chelsea, I knew I was joining another team where I could win everything - which was no longer the case at Chelsea."