Arsenal have officially secured the services of Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea for a modest £5 million release clause. The 30-year-old completed his medical in London earlier this week, and an official club announcement is expected within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Kepa, once the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he joined Chelsea in 2018 for £71.6 million, spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, where he delivered a string of solid performances. Prior to that, he also had a temporary stint at Real Madrid, gaining valuable experience at the highest level. Despite receiving interest from clubs that would have offered him a first-choice role, the Spaniard has chosen to join Arsenal and is prepared to challenge David Raya for the starting spot under Mikel Arteta.
This move comes after Arsenal’s need for a dependable backup keeper became evident, especially following Neto’s return to Bournemouth. With Matt Turner previously departing and Aaron Ramsdale’s future uncertain, Kepa provides the Gunners with a seasoned, high-level shot-stopper capable of stepping in when needed.
Kepa becomes Arsenal’s second signing of the summer window, following the arrival of Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi. The North London club are not done yet, with negotiations ongoing for Brentford’s Christian Nørgaard and Valencia’s rising defensive talent Cristhian Mosquera.
At 30, Kepa brings maturity, top-flight experience, and a winning mentality to the Emirates dressing room. While David Raya remains the undisputed number one at the moment, the competition Kepa brings is expected to elevate the standard in Arsenal’s goalkeeping department. Arteta values depth and rotation, and this addition provides Arsenal with the kind of reliability required for a squad competing on multiple fronts.
With Arsenal looking to build on last season’s title challenge, adding proven players like Kepa—who understands the Premier League’s demands—further strengthens their ambitions for silverware in the 2025 season.
