DEAL SIGNED: Arsenal’s long-term transfer target signed six-years contract with the Gunners after completing his medical this morning
Arsenal are on the verge of signing Kepa Arrizabalaga in a ‘bargain’ £5 million deal from Chelsea, with the Spaniard keen to join.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea in a ‘bargain’ deal. The record-breaking Spanish goalkeeper is out of contract at Stamford Bridge in 2026, with the Gunners now set to pay his £5 million release clause to bring him to north London.
Arsenal are closing in on a shrewd signing, probably their first of the summer as Kepa Arrizabalaga is on the verge of joining from Chelsea. The Spanish keeper, who once cost the Blues a world-record sum of £71 million, failed to live up to the expectations and pressures of Stamford Bridge.
He has spent spells on loan at Real Madrid and Bournemouth, as he was the first choice at the latter last season and impressed under Andoni Iraola. The Cherries had contemplated a permanent transfer of the Spaniard, although the Chelsea outcast now seems to be closer to joining the Gunners instead.
Arsenal had approached Arrizabalaga as Mikel Arteta had wanted a new second-choice keeper as the club are not planning on retaining veteran Neto beyond his current loan deal. He will return to Bournemouth and probably leave for another club, as the Gunners are set to take Chelsea outcast Arrizabalaga.
Arrizabalaga has a £5 million release clause in his deal, with the Gunners ready to pay that sum for the Spaniard., The Chelsea outcast is open to joining Arteta’s side and fighting for his place in the setup, with the deal seen as a ‘bargain’ for the north Londoners.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is the right choice for Arsenal
While the Chelsea outcast might not have been the absolute priority for Arsenal, as they had wanted someone like Joan Garcia. The latter has an agreement with Barcelona, as there were initial doubts about whether he would want to join the Gunners as a second-choice keeper.
As for Arrizabalaga, he’s a bargain signing for the £5 million release clause, as the Gunners get a quality keeper with plenty of Premier League pedigree to replace Neto. It’s a fantastic deal for Arsenal in all directions, as his presence could allow Arteta to rotate David Raya for cup games and dead rubber Champions League clashes.
