Robert Sánchez joins Rochdale on a season-long loan

Robert Sánchez

Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez from Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion has joined Dale on a season-long loan.

The 21-year-old Spaniard Sánchez, who is 6ft 6, was born in Cartagena, Spain, and started his career with Levante’s Academy before moving to England to link up with the Seagulls at the age of 17.

He signed his first professional contract at Brighton and Hove Albion in June 2015 and went on to pen a new three-year deal with the club last April.

The goalkeeper quickly established himself as first-choice goalkeeper in the Seagulls’ under-23 team and impressed during the 2016/17 Premier League 2 Division 2 campaign, earning the opportunity to play in the EFL Trophy, before helping the side secure promotion to the Premier League 2 Division 1, via the play-offs, a season later. Last term, he spent the first half of the campaign out on loan at Forest Green Rovers, where he made 17 appearances before being recalled by his parent club to link up with the first team.

“Last season at Forest Green was a tough challenge but one I enjoyed,” said Sánchez. “Overall, it went well - I learnt a lot and gained a lot of experience. Hopefully this season I can do even better than I did last year. I want to help the team while I’m here. “I met the manager today and we’ve had a good chat. He told me how good this group is and what they’re looking for, and that makes me even more excited to be here. I’m looking forward to getting started.”