Real Madrid has finalized the acquisition of Kepa Arrizabalaga, securing his services for the duration of the upcoming season through a loan agreement with Chelsea. Notably absent from Chelsea’s recent opening match against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, the 28-year-old goalkeeper now finds himself on the pitch for the Spanish giants.
Kepa’s presence on the team is in response to the unfortunate ACL injury that has sidelined Madrid’s primary goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois. The injury, which occurred just days before the commencement of the 2023-24 season, is expected to keep Courtois out of action for a substantial portion of the campaign.
The new chapter in Kepa’s career marks a departure from his time at Chelsea, where he initially arrived in 2018 following a groundbreaking €80 million transfer – a then-world record for a goalkeeper. Throughout his tenure with the Blues, Kepa made an impactful 163 appearances, contributing significantly to their successes. His efforts culminated in the team’s capture of four notable trophies, notably including the coveted Champions League title achieved in 2021.
