FOREST Green Rovers have signed Brighton U23 goalkeeper Robert Sanchez on a year-long loan deal, a player described by Pat Mountain as “the best U23 goalkeeper out there”.

The Spaniard made 15 appearances last season, keeping seven clean sheets.

Sanchez came through the youth team at Levante before moving to Brighton as a teenager in 2015.

He is now back home in Spain and will be officially unveiled as a Forest Green player at the start of pre-season.

He said: “I’ve been playing in the U23s for a little while so this is a big challenge for me to get into the first team as a player and a person.

“I talked to the coaches at Brighton and they thought this was the right time for me to get a loan and get more experience and I agree.

“Forest Green Rovers is perfect for my level and the experience I have. I went to the club to meet the coaches and they were brilliant, they’re the reason I wanted to join.”

Sanchez joins fellow goalkeeper James Montgomery through the doors at Rovers this summer and is looking forward to the challenge of claiming a starting place:

“Obviously every goalkeeper needs another big keeper next to him to help him improve and give him a bit of competition, so I’m looking forward to fighting to be the number one here.”

There was significant competition to sign the 20-year-old,so Rovers goalkeeping coach Pat Mountain was delighted to get it over the line.

Mountain said: “He’s definitely the best U23 goalkeeper out there in my opinion.

“What he’s got is untold potential – he’s incredibly athletic but has got a big frame - he’s comfortable in possession, he’s got a good range of passing on both feet, he can dominate on crosses. But he’s got a lot to prove and a lot to learn as all young goalkeepers do.

“I watched him quite a few times live last season and have seen as much video as possible – the same as we did with Montgomery.

“He’s the right fit for the club and we’re the right fit for him in terms of his attributes as a young goalkeeper. He’s a mature 20 year old, physically and mentally. He moved away from home in Spain three years ago and his parents are still back there – he’s a really impressive lad.”

Mountain is happy with the options he has for the number one jersey:

“With James alongside him and the two of them pushing each other I think we have a really strong department that’ll push the club forward.

“Rob’s an incredible potential talent that hasn’t yet done it on the senior stage, James has proved he can do it at senior level – although not in League football yet. I’m convinced they can both do it in League Two and I’m sure they’ve both got the potential to go even higher.”

Sanchez joins Forest Green subject to English Football League and FA approval