€80m star made a mistake by joining Arsenal this summer, says club legend

Cameron Smith

25 Nov 2025 07:31 CST
3 min read

Arsenal legend Lee Dixon has questioned Kepa Arrizabalaga’s decision to move to the Emirates Stadium on a permanent deal this summer.

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The Spaniard enjoyed a successful loan spell at Bournemouth last campaign and Arsenal swooped to finalise a permanent transfer with Chelsea in July amid their pursuit of a suitable back-up to David Raya.

Current ETV

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Arsenal

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Arsenal

ETV Range

€5.4M - €7.4M

Since his arrival in north London, Kepa has only made two appearances for the Gunners - versus Port Vale and Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup - and he is yet to make his Premier League debut for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Kepa, who remains the most expensive goalkeeper in history courtesy of his €80 million move to Chelsea in 2018, signed a three-year contract at Arsenal in June, but former Gunners defender Dixon is bemused by his decision to complete a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Lee Dixon issues Kepa Arrizabalaga transfer verdict

“I couldn’t believe he came,” Dixon told Metro when asked about Kepa’s summer arrival. “You would need to ask him what his reasons were because I don’t know. I don’t know why you would, at this stage of his career, make that decision.

“He’s never going to play. He’s only going to play if David Raya gets injured. So why would you want to do that?

© IMAGO - Kepa Arrizabalaga joined Arsenal in July

“I guess all players are different and he might have a different mindset. There might be something going on personally that he needs to be settled in the area, I don’t know.

“But from a football point of view, it didn’t make any sense to me whatsoever.”

Kepa was the first of eight players to join Arsenal during the 2025 summer transfer window, with the club backing Arteta in the market as they look to win their first major trophy since their triumph in the 2020 FA Cup final over Chelsea.

Fellow summer signings Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres have all established themselves as integral members of Arsenal’s first-team squad, while Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard and Piero Hincapie have also impressed during their time on the pitch for the Gunners.

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