The award was voted for by national sports journalists in his homeland, and the Blues shot-stopper won the vote convincingly with 321 votes, ahead of Liverpool’s Sadio Mane (99 votes) and Watford’s Ismailia Sarr (61 votes).

Mendy was handed the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year earlier in the season at our home match against Zenit in September, and two weeks ago finished second in the Yashin Trophy – an award at the Ballon d’Or ceremony dedicated to goalkeepers.

His recent accolades have deservedly come, after he became the first-ever African goalkeeper to win the Champions League, after keeping a joint-record nine clean sheets in last season’s competition.

The 29-year-old also became the first-ever goalkeeper to keep nine clean sheets in a debut Champions League season.

Mendy has gone from strength to strength since arriving from Rennes in the summer of 2020, keeping 36 clean sheets in 65 appearances, conceding just 42 goals.

Four of the 11 Premier League goals he has conceded this season have been from the penalty spot, and his commanding presence in both the Chelsea dressing room and on the pitch will be crucial to mounting a title charge this season.

Mendy’s Senegal are due to play in the African Cup of Nations in January and February in Cameroon, and he is one of two Chelsea players eligible to be called up to play at the tournament which commences on January 9 2022, alongside Hakim Ziyech of Morocco.