“Bournemouth Boost Squad with Chelsea Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on Season-Long Loan”
Bournemouth have secured Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan for the remainder of the season. Kepa, who spent the last season on loan at Real Madrid, drew interest from several clubs before finalizing his move to Bournemouth.
Prior to joining Bournemouth, the 29-year-old extended his Chelsea contract, which was set to expire next June, by an additional year.
In his first interview with Bournemouth, Kepa expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I’m feeling well, I’m feeling happy to be here. I know Andoni [Iraola] well, which was a major factor in my decision to come. He spoke highly of everything here, and I’m eager to play in front of our fans. We want to build on the club’s successful season and continue to grow.”
When asked about the possibility of winning trophies this season, Kepa replied, “Hopefully. It would be fantastic if we could achieve that. We need to stay focused on each game.”
Kepa’s arrival adds depth to Andoni Iraola’s squad, offering competition to Bournemouth’s current number one, Neto. Last season, Kepa was signed by Real Madrid as a temporary replacement for Thibaut Courtois, who was injured, but he struggled to make an impact and eventually lost his spot to Andriy Lunin.
Kepa was the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he transferred from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea in 2018 and has since made over 100 appearances for the club.