La Liga side Real Madrid has confirmed the signing of Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arizabalaga on loan from Chelsea after the long-term injury to Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Thibaut Courtois tore his ACL in training last week, which threw Real Madrid into a frantic search for an experienced goalkeeper after they were left exposed with only Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin available for the main team.
The Los Blancos played their opening game of the La Liga season, a 2-0 win over Athletic Club, with the Ukrainian 24-year-old goalkeeper in goal, but since then, they have been linked with several goalkeepers, including Spaniard David De Gea, who left Manchester United this summer, as a free agent.
However, their injury problems did not stop with Thibaut Courtois’ injury after Eder Militao was also injured in Saturday’s 2-0 victory.
Meanwhile, Kepa’s arrival was announced by Real Madrid in an official statement on Monday, where the Spanish club also stated that he would be unveiled and face the media for a presser on Tuesday. Kepa will be at the club until June 30, 2024.
In his five seasons at Chelsea, he won 1 Champions League, 1 World Cup, Clubs, 1 European Super Cup, and 1 Europa League. This year, he received the award for the best save in the Premier League for the 2022-2023 season.
28-year-old Kepa, who has made 163 appearances for Chelsea since joining from Athletic Bilbao, still played the summer US Tour with the Blues, although he did have competition from fellow Spaniard Sanchez, who joined the Blues on a £25m deal from Brighton.
Sanchez started Sunday’s Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Liverpool, which ended 1-1. Kepa’a move to Chelsea for £71m in August 2018 is the highest fee ever paid for a goalkeeper.
Meanwell, Kepa’s debut for the record winners of the UEFA Champions League could happen this weekend when Real Madrid travel to Almeria on Saturday for their second La Liga fixture of the season.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
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