Bournemouth has secured the signature of Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea on a season-long loan deal. The move marks the start of a potential wave of exits from Chelsea, as the club looks to offload several players before the end of the summer transfer window.
Kepa, who joined Chelsea in 2018 from Athletic Bilbao for a world-record fee of £71 million ($94 million) for a goalkeeper, has struggled to consistently hold the starting spot at Stamford Bridge.
Last season, the 29-year-old spent his time on loan at Real Madrid, making 20 appearances.
Despite playing a role in the club’s successful Champions League and La Liga campaigns, Kepa eventually lost his place to Andriy Lunin, following the return of Thibaut Courtois from injury.
At Chelsea, Kepa was one of seven senior goalkeepers, and his departure is seen as part of a broader effort by the club to reduce its squad size.
“We are delighted to bring a player of Kepa’s calibre to Bournemouth,” said Bournemouth’s chief executive, Neill Blake. “We were aware of his availability and were keen to take the opportunity to bring him to the club on loan.”
Kepa’s move to Bournemouth may not be the last high-profile departure from Chelsea before the transfer window closes. Other big names, including Romelu Lukaku, Raheem Sterling, and Ben Chilwell, have been informed by Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, that they will not feature in his plans for the upcoming season.
