Chelsea break world record fee for a goalkeeper to sign Kepa | OneFootball

Chelsea have completed the €80m signing of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The 23-year-old, who has won one Spain cap, has joined the Blues to replace Thiabaut Courtois and signed a whopping seven year contract at Stamford Bridge.

https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC/status/1027300958773174277

“It’s a very important decision for me, for my career, and also for my personal life,” Kepa told the club’s official website.

“So many things attracted me to the club, all the titles the club has won, the other players, the city, the English Premier League. It’s an accumulation of things, and I am very glad Chelsea has decided to trust me and to take me in as well.”

Kepa was wanted by Real Madrid in January but decided to stay at Athletic Club, signing a new contract with an €80m release clause. However, Chelsea activated that clause this week.

The fee makes Kepa the world’s most expensive goalkeeper of all time, beating the €70m (plus €5m in bonuses) Liverpool agreed to pay AS Roma for Alisson last month.

Kepa also becomes the most expensive signing in Chelsea history, blowing the €65m paid for Álvaro Morata last summer out of the water.