As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea FC goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to sign for another Premier League side AFC Bournemouth on a loan deal. The 29-year-old goalie spent his last season on a loan deal with Spanish side Real Madrid CF.
The loan deal will be till June 2025, after the goalie extends his contract with Chelsea till 2026. Currently, his deal with Chelsea FC is active till June 30, 2025. The deal is expected to be finalized soon, with “key details to sort”, as per Romano. The agreement has progressed after late-night talks. If everything goes fine, Kepa will travel for the medicals today itself.
Interestingly, Chelsea FC signed Kepa Arrizabalaga for a record fee of 80 million Euros from La Liga team Athletic Club Bilbao in 2018. Back then, Kepa was only 23 years and 10 months old. For the Blues, he has so far featured in 163 games, managing 59 clean sheets.
The news of his way out can be surprising to many, especially after a satisfactory loan stint with Real Madrid. Chelsea FC currently hails a mammoth squad of 43 players, and are looking to sell/ loan some out to consolidate their first team, as their coach already said he doesn’t count on all players.
Chelsea currently have three other first-team GKs to rely on – Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, and Djordje Petrovic. Kepa’s move to AFC Bournemouth shall prove to be a blessing in disguise, as they are searching for safer hands to protect their nets. The side drew their last two games in EPL, failing to keep a clean sheet in both. The side has also failed to keep clean sheets in games prior to the season start.
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