Kepa Arrizabalaga joined Bournemouth on a season-long loan on Thursday, capping off the anticipated departure of Chelsea’s struggling players in the last two days of the transfer market.
After spending £71 million ($94 million) to go from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea in 2018, the Spanish international is still the most expensive custodian in history.
But ever since, he has had difficulty securing the top spot at Stamford Bridge, and he spent the previous season on loan at Real Madrid.
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He made 20 appearances as the Spanish powerhouses won La Liga and the Champions League, but Andriy Lunin took his spot prior to Thibaut Courtois’s injured return.
Kepa was one of seven senior goalkeepers on contract at Chelsea, a team with an oversized roster of almost fifty players.
“We are delighted to bring a player of Kepa’s calibre to Bournemouth,” said the Cherries’ chief executive Neill Blake.
“We were aware of his availability and were keen to take the opportunity to bring him to the club on loan.”
Following their announcement by head coach Enzo Maresca that they will not be playing for Chelsea this season, Romelu Lukaku, Raheem Sterling, and Ben Chilwell are just a few of the other well-known players who may depart before Friday’s transfer deadline.