Arsenal HubArsenal have signed goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea for a fee of £5million. The 30-year-old Spaniard has signed a three-year deal at the Emirates and will be back-up to No 1 David Raya.
What happened?
Kepa's move to Arsenal marks a new chapter in his career, after a mixed spell at Chelsea.
He had not commanded a transfer fee for seven years, but remains the most expensive goalkeeper in history after Chelsea paid £71.6million to bring him from Athletic Club in 2018.
Why it matters for Arsenal
Kepa's signing provides Arsenal with an experienced goalkeeper to support David Raya.
He is capable with his feet, which means he should work as an understudy to David Raya at Arsenal, and fans can expect to see him take chances in possession.
What comes next?
Kepa is unlikely to receive too many minutes unless his compatriot picks up an injury.
While occasionally error-prone with his handling, Kepa conceded 2.9 fewer goals than expected last season, despite Bournemouth’s direct style resulting in quality opportunities for the opposition.
| Season | Goals Conceded |
|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 2.9 fewer than expected |
His distribution is solid, with 77 per cent of his passes completed over the last three league seasons.
At Bournemouth, he embodied Andoni Iraola’s direct approach, with 44 completed passes to winger Antoine Semenyo across the league season.
Injury record
Kepa suffered an adductor injury last October and missed two league games, having faced the same issue a year earlier.
His only serious injuries before that were a shoulder problem in 2020 and a bruised metatarsal and torn muscle bundle in 2017. He missed around two months on all three occasions.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola praised Kepa's consistency and experience, saying: 'He has been playing continuously all the season, very few big mistakes, very consistent.'
