{"id":210692,"date":"2018-08-08T17:14:32","date_gmt":"2018-08-08T21:14:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=210692"},"modified":"2020-12-21T19:35:23","modified_gmt":"2020-12-22T00:35:23","slug":"chelsea-sign-kepa-arrizabalaga-for-goalkeeper-world-record-fee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2018\/08\/08\/chelsea-sign-kepa-arrizabalaga-for-goalkeeper-world-record-fee\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea Sign Kepa Arrizabalaga For Goalkeeper World Record Fee"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chelsea<\/a> have completed the signing of Athletic Bilbao\u2019s Kepa Arrizabalaga for a world-record fee of \u00a371.6 million for a goalkeeper. The Spanish side confirmed that the goalkeeper\u2019s release clause had been met and has signed a seven-year contract with the Stamford Bridge outfit.<\/p>\n

Chelsea sign Kepa Arrizabalaga<\/h1>\n

Highly-Rated Goalkeeper<\/h2>\n

Kepa will replace Thibaut Courtois as the Belgium international has completed a move to\u00a0Real Madrid<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The \u00a371.6 million fee eclipses that of Alisson Becker\u2019s transfer fee from AS Roma to Liverpool<\/a>, when he completed a \u00a365 million move last month.<\/p>\n

The Spanish goalkeeper is highly-rated and has already impressed during his relatively short career. The 23-year-old, who was part of Spain\u2019s World Cup squad, made his debut for the country in November 2017.<\/p>\n

He was once thought to be a transfer target for Real Madrid earlier this summer. However, it is believed he rejected the chance to head to the Los Blancos. Instead, he decided to sign a seven-and-a-half year deal with Bilbao which contained the \u00a371.6m buy-out clause.<\/p>\n

Rave Reviews<\/h2>\n

He earned rave reviews from former manager Ernesto Valverde for his shot-stopping and reflexes and his statistics will help to support those praises.<\/p>\n

Kepa saved two of three penalties he faced in La Liga. He also made 64 saves from shots inside the penalty area \u2013 the third most in the division.<\/p>\n

Maurizio Sarri has seen the 23-year-old in action first hand and revealed that he felt he was a very good goalkeeper.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw him one year ago. My first impression was that he is a very good goalkeeper, very young, but very, very, good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Big Expectations<\/h2>\n

Chelsea will be hoping Kepa will be ready for Premier League football and will not find it difficult to adapt.<\/p>\n

The Spaniard is undoubtedly one of the most gifted young shot-stoppers in Europe at the moment. They will hope the huge transfer fee will not weigh him down.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a>