Chelsea have completed the signing of
Spanish international Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao for a fee of £71.6 (€80) millionmillion, a
world record for a goalkeeper.
Kepa, 23, signed a seven-year contract for Chelsea after the London club paid his release clause to bring him to the Premier League.
He arrives as the replacement for Thibaut Courtois, whose move to Real Madrid was confirmed late Wednesday evening.
It’s a very important decision for me, for my career, and also for my personal life, Kepa told the club's website.
So many things attracted me to the club, all the titles the
club has won, the other players, the city, the English Premier League.
It’s an accumulation of things, and I am very glad Chelsea has decided
to trust me and to take me in as well.
Kepa made 53 La Liga appearances for Athletic over the past two
seasons and signed a long-term contract in January after interest from
Real.
His fee beats the previous record of £66.9 million that Liverpool paid Roma to sign Alisson Becker.
He will be available to make his debut for the Blues in their
Premier League opener away at Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
Kepa becomes the fourth first-team signing made by new manager Maurizio Sarri following Jorginho signing from Napoli, Robert Green joining on a free transfer, and Mateo Kovacic moving on loan from Real.
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