Bournemouth have signed the Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on a season’s loan. The Spain international was among the Chelsea players training away from the first-team group and spent last season on loan at Real Madrid.
In 2018, Arrizabalaga became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper after joining Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao in a deal worth £71.6m. Arrizabalaga progressed through the ranks at Athletic towards the end of the Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola’s long spell as a player at the club.
Bournemouth were also interested in a move for Aaron Ramsdale but the Arsenal goalkeeper is poised to join Southampton in a £25m deal.
Iraola said of Arrizabalaga before the transfer was confirmed: “It will provide us the experience he has from playing with Chelsea, Real Madrid and the pressure that comes with playing in those kinds of games. It will add competition to the team.”
The out-of-favour Arrizabalaga signed a new contract with Chelsea before moving to Bournemouth, ensuring his parent club retain maximum value of the player. His deal had been due to expire next summer but now runs for a further year.
The Bournemouth chief executive, Neill Blake, said he was “delighted to bring a player of Kepa’s calibre” to the club. Bournemouth have also signed Dean Huijsen and Evanilson from Juventus and Porto respectively this summer.