AFC Bournemouth Signs Chelsea’s Star Keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on Loan
Aug 29, 2024
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga joins Bournemouth on a season-long loan. After spending last season at Real Madrid, he aims to bring his experience to the Cherries.
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Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has joined Bournemouth on loan until the end of the season. This transfer comes after Kepa, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, was told that he wasn’t in Chelsea’s new manager
Enzo Maresca’s plans for the current season. With Stamford Bridge no longer his main stage, Kepa is set to bring his talents to Bournemouth, where he will aim to prove himself again.
A Long Journey: From Bilbao to Bournemouth
Kepa’s path to becoming the world’s most expensive goalkeeper started at his hometown club, Athletic Bilbao. In 2018, Chelsea paid a huge £71 million to sign him, making news worldwide. However, Kepa’s time at Chelsea has been full of ups and downs, with both great moments and tough times.
Last season, Kepa stepped up at Real Madrid, filling in for the injured Thibaut Courtois. During his time with Real, Kepa made 20 appearances, helping the team win La Liga and the Champions League.
Kepa returned to Chelsea, only to be told that he wasn’t part of the first-team plans under the new management.
A Fresh Start with Bournemouth
With his future at Chelsea unclear, Kepa decided to join Bournemouth on loan. This move brings him back together with Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, who Kepa knows well from their time together at Athletic Bilbao.
Kepa shared his excitement about the move, saying, “I know Andoni well, and that was a big reason for coming here. He spoke very well about everything here. I’m ready to play in front of our fans and hopefully, we can win something.”
This week, Kepa also extended his contract with Chelsea, which was set to end in 2025, by an extra year. This extension makes sure that Chelsea keeps the value of the player, avoiding the risk of losing him for free after his loan spell ends.
Bournemouth’s Big Addition
Bournemouth’s boss, Neill Blake, shared his excitement about Kepa’s arrival, saying, “We are happy to bring a player of Kepa’s level to AFC Bournemouth. We knew he was available and wanted to bring him to the club on loan. We believe he will be an exciting addition to our talented goalkeeping team.”
Kepa’s move to Bournemouth wasn’t without competition. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti had shown interest in bringing Kepa back, but the move depended on Andriy Lunin leaving, which didn’t happen.
Kepa also turned down a permanent move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad in July, choosing instead to continue his career in Europe.
As Kepa joins Bournemouth, the Cherries continue to strengthen their team with other signings, including Dean Huijsen from Juventus and Evanilson from Porto. Bournemouth also considered Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, but he is now set to join Southampton in a £25 million deal.
