The Chelsea goalkeeper is returning on loan after a spell at Real Madrid last season. He joins Bournemouth at the age of 29.
English club Bournemouth have secured the loan of Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for the 2024-2025 season, from Chelsea, who had already sent him to Real Madrid last year, the “Cherries” announced on Thursday.
The 29-year-old became the most expensive goalkeeper in history when Chelsea paid his €80 million release clause from Athletic Bilbao, his training club, in 2018. At the “Blues”, he started as a starter but was relegated to the bench by Senegalese Edouard Mendy, before regaining his starting place.
The Basque has played over a hundred Premier League games with the London club. Their joint honours include a Champions League, a Club World Cup, a European Super Cup and a Europa League.
One less goalkeeper for the Blues
Kepa was loaned to Real Madrid for the entire last season to replace Belgian Thibaut Courtois, who was injured for several months. But coach Carlo Ancelotti ultimately preferred Ukrainian Andriy Lunin as No. 1.
Chelsea are reducing their squad on the eve of the summer transfer window in England, a necessity given the number of players under contract. Among goalkeepers alone, the “Blues” have Robert Sanchez, Djordje Petrovic and Filip Jorgensen, recruited during the off-season.
Bournemouth, twelfth last season, started the championship with Brazilian goalkeeper Neto, 35, who wore the captain’s armband in the last match, which ended 1-1 against Newcastle.
