Chelsea tonight confirmed the club record £71 million signing of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao.
The 23-year-old Spain international is now the most expensive goalkeeper of all time and will join the Blues on a seven-year deal.
He will move to Stamford Bridge as a replacement for Belgium international Thibaut Courtois, who earlier this evening sealed his long anticipated move to European Champions Real Madrid.
Speaking at his official unveiling as a Blues player Kepa revealed his reasons for wanting to move to Chelsea :
“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.” He told Chelsea’s official website.
It's time…
Welcome to Chelsea, @kepa_46! 🙌#WelcomeKepa https://t.co/X0uSlQKUpP
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 8, 2018
Kepa has long been heralded as one of the best young players in the World, and he is very much a modern ‘keeper who is equally adept with both his hands and his feet.
Although Chelsea have had to break the World Record to secure his signing, at just 23 the Stamford Bridge outfit will see his signing as an investment that will pay dividends for many years to come.