Chelsea yesterday confirmed that goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was heading to Arsenal, with most reviews agreeing the Gunners have paid his £5m launch clause.
, the place he spent final season on mortgage as first selection, completely this summer season, however in the long run to go and be a backup to David Raya on the Emirates.
Basque Kepa’s departure clears a few of Chelsea’s confusion
Kepa Arrizabalaga in motion for Bournemouth towards Tottenham. (Picture by Justin Setterfield/Getty Pictures)
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There had been zero expectation of Kepa staying at Chelsea for this season, but it surely does get one other title off the squad listing and off the wage invoice, serving to to make clear our squad constructing plans one other notch.
Kepa saga ends finally after years of frustration
So ends one of many longest and most disastrous switch sagas in Chelsea historical past.
Purchased in 2018 for £72m in a panic after Thibaut Courtois pressured his approach out of the membership to affix Actual Madrid, the Basque stopper had an honest debut 12 months below Maurizio Sarri the place it appeared that he would possibly someday find yourself being the participant we paid a lot for.
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However after that, issues went downhill for Kepa , and he struggled below a lot of coaches, 12 months after 12 months. However with such a large switch payment, it was unimaginable to maneuver him on, and he was given a lot rope to attempt to show himself.
Lastly he can now transfer on, and so can Chelsea. Though, with Robert Sanchez in aim, some would argue we’re no nearer to discovering our subsequent Courtois than we had been in 2018…