Football | Arsenal complete Kepa signing

 Arsenal have completed the £5m signing of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea.

The Spain international arrives at the Emirates on a three-year deal following a season-long loan at Bournemouth, where he made 35 appearances.

Author | DJ

Now 30, Kepa remains the most expensive goalkeeper in history, a record that has hung over him ever since his £71m move to Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao in 2018.

His arrival in north London will increase competition for fellow Spaniard David Raya, with Arsenal choosing not to make Neto’s loan from Bournemouth permanent at the end of last season.

Kepa made 163 appearances for Chelsea, featuring in the squads that lifted the Champions League, Europa League and Club World Cup. He also spent a year on loan at Real Madrid, winning both La Liga and the Champions League in the 2023-24 campaign.

Kepa’s curious career path

Kepa’s time at Chelsea was shaped as much by the circumstances of his transfer as his performances. Signed for a world-record fee after Thibaut Courtois forced through a move to Real Madrid and Alisson opted for Liverpool, the Blues were left with little choice but to meet Kepa’s full release clause at Athletic Club.

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The hefty price tag and £190,000-a-week wages quickly became a burden. Early struggles, including high-profile errors and inconsistent form, meant he was rarely viewed as living up to the fee.

Yet within the club, Kepa remained a respected figure. Regarded as a consummate professional and a positive influence in the dressing room, his reputation survived even the bizarre episode in the 2019 Carabao Cup final when he refused to be substituted.

Talented, but never considered worthy of his world-record valuation, Is there now an opportunity for Kepa to quietly rebuild his reputation at Arsenal, away from the glare that accompanied his early years in England.

A necessary signing for Arsenal

Those were the words of one Arsenal fan, who told us: "It's a necessary and decent signing for us. Makes perfect sense. Welcome, Kepa!"