New Delhi: Premier League club Chelsea are set to ship out two of the six goalkeepers that they still have on their books before tomorrow’s deadline. Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he joined the Blues in 2018 from Athletic Bilbao, has been loaned out to fellow Premier League club AFC Bournemouth for the 2024/25 season.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper will spend the upcoming season under the guidance of Andoni Iraola, a former Athletic Bilbao player and Kepa’s former teammate. Their close relationship, forged during their time together at Bilbao, has played a significant role in Kepa’s decision to join the Cherries. In an interview with the club’s YouTube channel, Kepa expressed that Iraola’s presence at the helm was one of the key factors in his move.
He’s a Kepa 🧤 pic.twitter.com/AfeiLh2jmP
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 29, 2024
This will be the Spaniard’s second successive season away from Stamford Bridge as he spent the previous season on loan at Real Madrid, with whom he won La Liga and the UEFA Champions League double. He made 20 appearances for the Spanish giants all season as a deputy for the injured Thibaut Courtois and wanted to return with to the Champions of Europe this season but Real Madrid decided to keep Andriy Lunin at the club which ended Kepa’s hope of rejoining the Spanish side.
He signed a one-year extension at the club which sees his contract, which was due to expire in the summer of 2025, valid till the summer of 2026. This allows Chelsea to still demand a fee for the keeper when he returns from the loan next year. Getting the world’s most expensive keeper to the club is a big move for Bournemouth, the club’s chief executive, Neill Blake said “We are delighted to bring a player of Kepa’s calibre to AFC Bournemouth.”
Kepa isn’t the only goalkeeper who leaves Chelsea before tomorrow’s deadline, as Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is also set to leave Stamford Bridge. He has agreed on a season-long loan at Chelsea’s sister club RC Strasbourg. Petrovic played 31 times for the Blues last season under Mauricio Pochettino but has fallen behind Robert Sanchez and new signing Filip Jorgensen in the pecking order under new manager Enzo Maresca.
🚨🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic set to leave and join Strasbourg, here we go!
Understand Petrovic has agreed on new terms with Chelsea ahead of leaving to join Strasbourg.
It will be one year loan until June 2025 then back to #CFC.
Paperwork being prepared. pic.twitter.com/xSZiTQDxwW
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 29, 2024
Like Kepa, even Petrovic signed a new contract on improved terms with the Blues before agreeing on a move to the French club. Following his move to Strasbourg, he is likely to become the number-one keeper for the new Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior. The French outfit will be his third club in three seasons after he joined Chelsea just last year from MLS club New England Revolution in a deal worth £14 million.
Once the loan deal for Petrovic is announced by the clubs involved, he will become the fourth player to join Strasbourg from Chelsea in this window. Brazillian midfielder Andrey Santos has returned to the French outfit for another year on loan while new signing Caleb Wiley joins him on loan in France. Portuguese winger Diego Moreira also joined Chelsea’s sister club on a permanent deal after spending half of last season on loan in France.
Following the signings of goalkeepers Filip Jorgensen and Mike Penders from Villareal and Genk in the summer window, the Blues have decided to loan out two of their first-team keepers. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
