Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - May 3, 2025 AFC Bournemouth's Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates after the match REUTERS/Tony O Brien EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS..
Arsenal are advancing in a deal to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and are expected to trigger the £5m release clause in his contract. Arsenal are in need of another shot stopper after backup keeper Neto returned from his season long loan to Bournemouth.
Kepa was once a world record goalkeeper signing, when he joined Chelsea for £71.8m in the summer of 2018 from Athletic Club. He signed a new deal at Chelsea last summer to allow him to join Bournemouth on loan last season.
The deal saw him take a pay cut and included the £5m release clause which Arsenal now plan to activate.
He was in between the sticks for an impressive Bournemouth side that achieved a club best 9th place finish in the Premier League. The 30 year old won the starting position and made 35 starts under manager Andoni Iraola.
Arsenal closing in on deal for Kepa
Sky Sports has reported that Arsenal is impressed with Kepa’s desire to fight for his place in the side. He is set to compete with compatriot David Raya who remains Arsenal’s undisputed No.1 and reigning back-to-back Premier League golden glove winner.
Raya is the first Arsenal keeper to win the award in back-to-back seasons, last season splitting the honor with Nottingham Forest stopper Matz Selz. He was the standalone winner in the 2023/24 season.
Kepa will have quite task on his hands if he is to win the starting position, but the experienced goalkeeper will relish the chance to compete. He joined the Premier League with a massive billing and was once regarded as one of the world’s elite.
A series of high profile errors for Chelsea cost him his starting place and ultimately caused his stock to fall a bit, but he remains a respected shot stopper. He has 17 caps for Spain although he has never been the clear No.1 for his country.
He was last called up for Spain in March of 2023 for friendlies against Norway and Scotland, and will be hoping a move to Arsenal will see him earn a place in the 2026 World Cup squad.
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