Arsenal have signed Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from London rivals Chelsea on a three-year deal for a fee reported to be around £5 million.
Kepa who joined Chelsea for a record fee of £71 million had spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, where he made 35 appearances in all competitions.
Kepa had spent the 2023/2024 season on loan at Spanish giants, Real Madrid where he played cover for Thibaut Courtois.
“Here to raise the levels,” Arsenal Football Club wrote on its social media channel along with a video of Kepa.
The 30-year-old is still the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, having joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao in 2018. Kepa is expected to provide cover for his compatriot David Raya.
“I’m really, really happy to be here, really excited and looking forward to what is coming,” he said.
“The ambition that is shown in this club, when I talk with Mikel [Arteta] and 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.”
Last season, Arsenal had signed Brazilian goalkeeper Neto from the Bournemouth but they decided not to make the deal a permanent one.
Kepa played 163 times for Chelsea and was in the squads that lifted the Champions League, Europa League and Club World Cup.
He also spent a year on loan at Real Madrid and helped them win La Liga and the Champions League during the 2023-24 season.
