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News
- 29 minutes ago
OFFICIAL: Arsenal confirm signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 2 Jul 2025 09:21 BST
- 4 min read
Breaking
Arsenal have officially completed the signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga after triggering his €5.9 million (£5m) release clause.
The former Spain international, who spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, has signed a three-year contract at the Emirates Stadium and he is expected to play a back-up role to David Raya.
Current ETV
Kepa Arrizabalaga
GK
B'mouth
Kepa Arrizabalaga
GK
B'mouth
ETV Range
€10.9M - €13.3M
Kepa played 35 matches across all competitions for Bournemouth last campaign, keeping nine clean sheets, and his form under Andoni Iraola has prompted Arsenal to make him their new number two goalkeeper.
The Gunners have been in the market for a new back-up goalkeeper for the best part of a year and they quickly turned their attention to finalising a deal for Kepa following confirmation that top target Joan Garcia had joined Barcelona.
Kepa has replaced Neto as Arsenal’s second-choice goalkeeper, with the 35-year-old returning to Bournemouth after a season-long loan spell at the Emirates Stadium.
Kepa leaves Chelsea
Kepa’s move to Arsenal signals the end of a rather disappointing seven-year stay at Chelsea.
The Spaniard remains the most expensive goalkeeper in football history, thanks to his €80m transfer to Stamford Bridge in 2018, although his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has never exceeded the €20m mark during his entire career.
Kepa made a total of 163 first-team appearances for Chelsea, winning four major trophies, however he was usurped by Edouard Mendy in 2020 and he was sent on consecutive loan spells to Real Madrid and Bournemouth in 2023 and 2024 after falling out of favour in west London.
Despite offloading Kepa, Marcus Bettinelli and Lucas Bergstrom so far this summer, Chelsea still have five senior goalkeepers on their books - Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Djordje Petrovic, Mike Penders and Gabriel Slonina.
Petrovic is expected to be sold, while Penders and Slonina could be sent out on loan.
“I'm really, really happy to be here, really excited and looking forward to what is coming," Kepa said after completing his move to Arsenal.
“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.”
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