Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has completed a season-long move on loan to fellow Premier League club AFC Bournemouth until the end of the 2024 - 2025 season on Thursday 29 August 2024.
The 29-year-old Spanish goalkeeper previously had just 12 months remaining on his contract. However, he has signed a one-year extension so the club can protect his transfer value.
Kepa Arrizabalaga moved from Athletic Club in August 2018 in an €80 million ($89.3m) deal to Stamford Bridge as the most expensive goalkeeper in history.
However, he often struggled for form, falling out of favor during Frank Lampard's tenure as head coach before the club moved to sign Édouard Mendy as his replacement in September 2020.
On 14 August 2023, Real Madrid announced the signing of Kepa from Chelsea on a one-year loan deal. The move was initiated in response to a long-term injury sustained by their primary goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois. Following day, Kepa was unveiled by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez at the Ciudad Real Madrid.
On 25 August 2023, Kepa debuted for Real Madrid in a 1–0 away win over Celta Vigo, keeping his first clean sheet for Madrid. However, he failed to make an impact at Real, rapidly losing his place to Andriy Lunin.