Arsenal sign goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea
The 30-year-old Spaniard spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, making 35 appearances in all competitions.
Arsenal had brought in Neto from the Cherries as back-up to David Raya, but the Brazilian has returned to the Cherries following the end of his own season-long loan.
Advertisement
Kepa, who spent the 2023/24 campaign at Real Madrid, has signed a three-year deal, the PA news agency understands. The fee is reported to be around £5million, with the transfer subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
'I'm really, really happy to be here, really excited and looking forward to what is coming,' Kepa told Arsenal's website.
'The ambition that is shown in this club, when I talk with Mikel (Arteta) and (goalkeeping coach) Inaki (Cana), how much they show me their desire to win, I think we are so close to winning and, hopefully, altogether, we can achieve it.'
Kepa became the world's most expensive goalkeeper when he joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao in a £71m deal during the summer of 2018, going on to win the Europa League and Champions League with the Blues as well as the 2023 UEFA Nations League with Spain.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is confident Kepa will provide plenty of competition for his compatriot Raya.
'He is a player we know, having come up against him many times in recent seasons,' Arteta said. 'He brings a wealth of experience, which his team-mates will benefit from, and he has a real hunger to win.
'Kepa works hard and will elevate our levels. I know he will fit in perfectly, already knowing some of his team-mates, and we are really excited about his future with us.'
Chelsea posted on X: 'We thank Kepa for his efforts during his time at Stamford Bridge and wish him well in the future.'
Arsenal also appear to be closing in on deals for Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard and Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi.
The Gunners are in need of midfield reinforcements, with Thomas Partey having become a free agent after his contract expired and Jorginho also leaving the club earlier this month to join Brazilian club Flamengo.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Arsenal sign Chloe Kelly on a permanent deal after England star's Manchester City exit
CHLOE KELLY has given Arsenal a summer boost by sealing a permanent switch to the club after her trophy-winning loan spell. The Gunners' signing of the forward, who is currently in Switzerland with England at the Euros, follows her exit from Manchester City. Advertisement 5 Chloe Kelly has made her return to Arsenal permanent after helping the team win the Women's Champions League Credit: Getty 5 The Arsenal forward will wear the team's number 18 shirt from next season Credit: Getty 5 Chloe Kelly is one of five Arsenal players who are part of Sarina Wiegman's England squad competing in this year's Euros in Switzerland Credit: AP 5 Kelly and her team-mates hope to remain European champions after their triumph in 2022 with the forward scoring their tournament-winning goal Credit: Getty The length of the contract with The move comes two months after she helped the club win this year's Women's Champions League. Her eight appearances in the contest include her starting in Renee Slegers' side's The result led to Arsenal winning the biggest football club prize in Europe for the second time in their history. Advertisement Read More Football Stories Of her permanent move, Kelly said: "Putting pen to paper on a permanent contract at Arsenal is a standout moment for me "Learning from an incredible manager and continuing to build relationships with an excellent team is a journey I'm looking forward to continuing. "I'm excited for more silverware at this special club and to bring more trophies back to North London to celebrate with our supporters. "I've always said that Arsenal supporters are the best and to have them on my side, singing my name, means so much to me." Advertisement Most read in Sport Kelly, whose career started in the Gunners' academy at 12, made 19 first team appearances for Arsenal, scoring nine times, between 2015 and 2018. A two-year stint with During her time there the 53-capped Lioness won FA and League Cups in 2020 and 2022. Last term Kelly faced a battle for minutes at City after dropping down their pecking order making just one start in six WSL matches last season. Advertisement Her struggle for game time led to the England star issuing an exit plea before joining Arsenal on loan. 5 Arsenal won the Champions League for the first time since 2007 when they defeated Barcelona in this year's final Credit: Alamy Under head coach Slegers Kelly impressed for the club helping them finish second in the WSL after playing in eight top-flight games. Slegers added: "Chloe had a great impact for us and played an important role in what we achieved here last season. Advertisement "I know she shares our ambition to compete for more."
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Trent Alexander-Arnold pays back Real Madrid's transfer fee to Liverpool with just one cross at Club World Cup
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD paid back the £8.4million transfer fee Real Madrid paid for him with just one Club World Cup cross. The Spanish giants met Alexander-Arnold's release clause at Liverpool to ensure they signed him before the 32-team tournament in America. 2 Trent Alexander-Arnold's assist for Gonzalo Garcia Credit: DAZN 2 He helped send Real Madrid into the Club World Cup Last 16 Credit: Reuters That was despite being able to sign the right-back for FREE when the new season started. But Madrid manager Xabi Alonso's insistence on signing Alexander-Arnold paid off in the The defender whipped in a stunning cross for 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia to finish - sending Madrid into the quarter-finals. As a result, they bagged an extra £10m having already received about £43m for just reaching the last 16. READ MORE IN football Madrid now play Borussia Dortmund after the Germans beat Monterrey in the quarter-finals. Winners of the tournament could earn up to £125m - making the investment on Alexander-Arnold seem worth every penny. Former Arsenal and Manchester City full-back Gael Clichy told DAZN: "Of course it was worth paying the extra money. Most read in Football "You don't have time in football, but this competition has given Real Madrid and Trent extra time. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "This has allowed Trent to get used to Real Madrid. He has to be excited by what is to come - and so will Real Madrid." Ex-Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel added: "It was a fantastic delivery from Trent. "We know he can do that - even though there are still questions defensively. It's good to see him settle. We knew it would take him time." Arsenal Plot Big Double Transfer For Eberechi Eze and Hugo Ekitike! | Transfers Exposed
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Plenty of time for Bellingham brothers clash, says Dortmund coach Niko Kovac after Jobe's Club World Cup suspension
The midfielder was on track to face his brother Jude of Real Madrid in the Club World Cup quarter-finals but after picking up a yellow card in Borussia Dortmund's 2-1 win over Monterrey on Tuesday he will instead be looking on from the sidelines. That booking, for a foul on Nelson Deossa, was his second of the tournament and arrived in the 28th minute at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The 19-year-old's first yellow card came in Dortmund's 1-0 group stage win over South Korean side Ulsan HD - also in the 28th minute. 'I think we all saw that he was very disappointed,' Dortmund manager Niko Kovac said. 'I think he did not exactly know that the second yellow card is a suspension at halftime. He was a little bit surprised.' While one door has closed, Kovac said there will be more opportunities for the siblings to face each other. 'Okay, he's young. His brother is also young, so I'm convinced they will face each other, maybe next season in the Champions League, and then the future. The future is for them. 'And yeah, the Club World Cup would be nice, but now it isn't. Someone else must play for him, but it's also okay.' Jobe, who sealed a €33million move to Dortmund from newly-promoted Premier League club Sunderland in June, was substituted in the 55th minute to avoid any chance of a red card, said Kovac. 'I substituted him not because of his performance. I changed because he had a yellow card in this game, and you saw we had some very intensive duels, and I did not want that someone is maybe then booked twice,' Kovac added. Jude, 22, also played for Dortmund from 2020-2023 before making the switch to the Santiago Bernabeu.
