Chelsea have allowed Kepa Arrizabalaga to join Premier League rivals Bournemouth on loan for the 2024/25 campaign.
The Spanish shot-stopper was deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and has now completed a season-long loan switch to the Cherries.
Arrizabalaga has signed a new one-year contract with Chelsea to protect his value before the move, while no purchase option has been included in the deal. Bournemouth will contribute to the goalkeeper’s salary during his time on the south coast.
The 29-year-old spent last season on loan at Real Madrid and won a La Liga and Champions League double with the Spanish side. Signed as a replacement for the injured Thibaut Courtois, he made 20 appearances in all competitions but lost his place as first-choice to Andriy Lunin over the second half of the campaign.
Arrizabalaga signed for Chelsea in a world-record deal for a goalkeeper in 2018, after the West Londoners spent £71.6m to sign the goalkeeper from Athletic Bilbao.
He has made 163 appearances for Chelsea and has earned 13 caps for the Spanish national team.
Bournemouth delighted to sign Kepa on loan
Speaking on the goalkeeper’s arrival at the club, Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake told the club’s official website: “We are delighted to bring a player of Kepa’s calibre to AFC Bournemouth.
“We were aware of his availability and were keen to take the opportunity to bring him to the club on loan.
“We believe he will be an exciting addition to our talented goalkeeping department.”
Who else could leave Chelsea before the transfer deadline?
Enzo Maresca is working to reduce his squad before the transfer deadline, with the Blues’ bloated in numbers after another busy recruitment drive.
Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell have been informed they do not feature in the new manager’s plans, while Romelu Lukaku is expected to join Napoli after a disastrous return to West London.
Trevoh Chalobah was left out of the pre-season tour of the United States and has been deemed surplus to requirements, as has fellow academy graduate Armando Broja. The latter was set to sign on loan for Ipswich but a deal has since stalled.
