Kepa Joins Arsenal in a surprise £5m move from Chelsea, as the Gunners reinforce their goalkeeping depth ahead of the new season.
Arsenal have officially confirmed the signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga as he joins from Chelsea for a modest £5 million fee—seven years after the Spaniard made headlines with his world-record £72 million transfer to Stamford.
Kepa, now 30, arrives at the Emirates Stadium after a rollercoaster stint at Chelsea that included Champions League, Europa League, and Club World Cup triumphs. Despite the silverware, his time in west London was marked by inconsistency and high expectations that often overshadowed his performances.
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Following loan spells at Real Madrid and Bournemouth—where he impressed last season with 35 appearances—Kepa has now been handed a fresh opportunity to reignite his career under Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners have been actively reshaping their goalkeeping department, and Kepa’s arrival provides much-needed depth behind first-choice David Raya. With Neto returning to Bournemouth after a loan spell, Arsenal moved swiftly to activate Kepa’s £5m release clause.
Arteta praised the signing, saying, “He brings a wealth of experience, which his teammates will benefit from, and he has a real hunger to win”.
Kepa, who has 13 caps for Spain and was part of their 2023 UEFA Nations League-winning squad, expressed his excitement: “The ambition that is shown in this club… I think we are so close to winning and, hopefully, altogether, we can achieve it”.
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