Robert Sanchez and David Raya will play this season for Chelsea and Arsenal, respectively. In 2021, the former made his debut in a call-up to the Spanish national team when he was playing his 1st season as a starter in the Premier League, the same case experienced by the latter a year later.
"Who are they?" That was one of the most repeated reactions from fans when Luis Enrique called up Robert Sanchez and David Raya to the Spanish national team. Now, one has signed for Chelsea and the other is about to sign for Arsenal.
Neither Sanchez nor Raya were complete unknowns, but their names did come as a surprise in call-ups where many expected David de Gea or Kepa Arrizabalaga. Not just because they were in England, but because they had barely been starting for their Premier League teams for a year.
Robert arrived at Brighton at the age of 15, having come through the Cartagena academy and the Levante youth academy, but struggled to make a name for himself with the Seagulls. In 2018-19, he was on loan in League Two (4th tier of English football) at Forest Green Rovers, a club famous for identifying as vegan and being based on sustainability and ecology. In 2019-20, he moved up a step to join Rochdale in League One.
That, and a few months of patience, was enough for him. On his return the following year, he became the first-choice goalkeeper for Brighton in the Premiership. He made his debut in the 7th matchday against Tottenham and repeated in the 13th against Fulham, before never losing his place in the starting line-up. We are talking about the end of 2020. And in March 2021, Luis Enrique called him up to the national team. Now, Robert Sanchez arrives at Chelsea where he will compete with Kepa Arrizabalaga to be Mauricio Pochettino's first-choice goalkeeper.