BLUES’ NEW KEPA COULD COST £142M
LUIZ HAILS £71M ARRIZABALAGA AS BLUES PAY RECORD FEE FOR A KEEPER
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA flew into England yesterday to complete his world-record move, which could cost Chelsea £142million.
The Blues agreed to make Kepa, 23, football’s most expensive goalkeeper ever after paying his entire £71.5m release clause.
And Kepa is set to sign a seven-year deal worth up to
CHELSEA have delivered a statement of intent by smashing the world transfer record to sign goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
That’s the view of defender David Luiz, who hailed his new megamoney team-mate a “great keeper”. Spaniard Kepa was last night finalising his blockbuster £71.5million move, a record for a keeper, to Chelsea after they paid his release fee to prise him away from Athletic Bilbao. Luiz (left) said: “He is a great keeper, that is why everybody is talking about him. Does this show the ambition of the club? Yes, of course. Chelsea is a big club. “Every club in the world spends money, not just Chelsea. But the numbers don’t matter, we are happy because Chelsea are always doing the best for the club.”
Spain international Kepa, 23, is rated as one of Europe’s best young keepers and is set to be handed an immediate chance to show just why he arrives in England with such a big billing.
The Blues plan to hand Kepa his debut in their Premier League opener against Huddersfield on Saturday.
The hope last night was that his move would be completed in time for him to train with his new team-mates today, and then again tomorrow, ahead of their trip to the Terriers.
Chelsea moved swiftly to tie up a deal for Kepa after Thibaut Courtois went AWOL to try to force his way out of Stamford Bridge.
With Bilbao refusing to negotiate, Chelsea agreed to pay Kepa’s full release clause. Kepa’s lawyers
attended La Liga’s offices in Madrid to deposit the money yesterday morning securing his release.
He then boarded a private jet to London to have his medical, and finalise the move, before being joined in the capital by his family.
Kepa’s arrival has paved the way for Courtois to move to Real Madrid with Chelsea last night agreeing terms with the Spanish giants over a £35m move.
Courtois has been desperate to return to the Spanish capital, where he previously played with Atletico Madrid and his two children live.
He is due in Madrid to complete his transfer today and has also agreed terms on a six-year deal.
Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic is heading the other way from Madrid to Chelsea, and was also having a medical yesterday afternoon ahead of his loan switch to Stamford Bridge. Kepa and Kovacic (right) will join midfielder Jorginho and goalkeeper Rob Green as new faces at Chelsea this summer. And Chelsea’s focus on deadline day will shift to offloading players. The arrival of two midfielders has made Tiemoue Bakayoko surplus to requirements and he is set to seal a season-long loan move to AC Milan. The Italians also want to secure an option to buy the Frenchman for around £30m next summer. His representatives held talks with Milan directors Leonardo and Paolo Maldini yesterday. Danny Drinkwater (top left) could also be squeezed out and has attracted attention from West Ham and his former club Leicester City.
Centre-back Kurt Zouma (middle left), who spent last season on loan at Stoke, could be heading out temporarily again and is wanted by Everton.
Sevilla have made an approach to take striker Michy Batshuayi (bottom left) on loan.
He impressed during a shortterm stint at Borussia Dortmund last season, scoring seven times in 10 games, before injury brought a premature end to his club campaign.
Either Batshuayi or youngster Tammy Abraham, who spent last season at Swansea, are likely to be loaned out.