Arsenal have completed the signing of Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, earlier today, July 1, after paying just £5 million to their London rivals.
Kepa Arrizabalaga was not able to establish himself at Chelsea even though he cost the club £71.8 million to bring him to London from Athletic Club in 2018.
In the last two seasons, Kepa had loan spells at Real Madrid and then at Bournemouth before agreeing to move to the Emirates Stadium, where he will compete with Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper, David Raya.
Now that Arsenal have triggered Kepa’s release clause and lured him to the Emirates Stadium, the Spanish goalkeeper will serve as a backup to Raya, a role Neto was playing on loan from Bournemouth.
Naija News gathered that Kepa Arrizabalaga, 30, signed a three-year contract with the Gunners with an option for an extension.
“I’m really, really happy to be here, really excited and looking forward to what is coming”, Kepa said after signing the deal.
“The ambition that is shown in this club, when I talk with Mikel [Arteta] and Inaki [Cana], how much they show me their desire to win… I think we are so close to winning and, hopefully, altogether, we can achieve it.”
Note that Kepa made 35 starts during his loan spell at Bournemouth as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper last season under coach Andoni Iraola.
In reaction to the arrival of Kepa, the Gunners’ coach, Mikel Arteta, said: “We are really happy to have Kepa joining us. He is a player we know, having come up against him many times in recent seasons. He brings a wealth of experience, which his teammates will benefit from, and he has a real hunger to win.
“Kepa works hard and will elevate our levels. I know he will fit in perfectly, already knowing some of his teammates, and we are really excited about his future with us.”
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