Kepa joins Bournemouth on loan in final stretch before transfer window closes
Chelsea’s Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga joined Bournemouth on a season-long loan on August 28. Just 48 hours before the transfer window closed
Kepa became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper. When he joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 for £71million. But he has struggled to stay at the club and spent last season on loan at La Liga giants Real Madrid. Where he made 20 appearances for the club. Winning La Liga and the Champions League. But was overtaken by Andriy Lunin before Thibaut Courtois returned from injury.
Kepa is one of seven first-team goalkeepers currently contracted to Chelsea, with the squad now numbering more than 50. The club are looking to offload players through sales and loans to cut wage bill, with Romelu Lukaku, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell among the big names looking for new clubs.
The Spain goalkeeper this week extended his Chelsea contract. Which was due to expire at the end of the 2025 season, by a year. But is not a regular in manager Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad and is believed to have no future at Stamford Bridge.
The new deal means the Blues won’t have to lose Kepa on a free transfer at the end of his loan spell with the Cherries.
Last season, the 29-year-old goalkeeper was on loan at Real Madrid. Where he made 20 appearances as a replacement for the injured Thibaut Courtois and helped the ยูฟ่าเบท https://ufabet999.app team win La Liga and the Champions League.
While Fabrizio Romano, a famous Italian journalist is another channel that posted confirmation. Stating that “Kepa has signed a new contract with Chelsea. Until June 2026 and has moved to Bournemouth on loan.”
“Bournemouth will pay the players’ wages but there is no option to buy.”
Bournemouth chief executive Neil Blake said: “We are delighted to be bringing a player of Kepa’s calibre to the club. We know his availability and wanted to take the opportunity to bring him on loan.”