Real Madrid, in need of a top-class goalkeeper, has signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea on a one-year loan.
“Kepa has joined Real,” the club announced on its website on Friday (ET).
Kepa will wear the Real shirt on a one-year loan. There is no option for an outright transfer.
Real president Florentino Perez said: “We welcome Kepa to the club. From today, he will wear the Real shirt and be in goal.”
Real have been hit with a sudden injury blow. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered a cruciate ligament injury in training ahead of the start of the season and has been ruled out for the long term.
The news was devastating for Real. Courtois has been in the team’s goal since 2018 with his incredible reflexes and saves.
However, in training ahead of the start of La Liga, he suffered a cruciate ligament injury that landed him on the operating table.
According to Spain’s The Athletic, “Courtois will undergo surgery to repair the injury. The best-case scenario is for him to return next April, but there are fears that the season could be over before it starts.”
Courtois’ sudden injury has left Real in a goalkeeping emergency. Several names were mentioned, including David De Gea, who recently signed for Manchester United, and Sevilla’s Yacine Bonu.
However, Real have made a move for Kepa and 스포츠토토 have signed him on a one-year loan with no outright transfer option, in anticipation of Courtois’ return.
Chelsea were open to the idea of loaning Kepa, having acquired Robert Sanchez from Brighton & Hove Albion this season under Mauricio Pochettino, and a deal was quickly finalized.
Kepa was born in Spain and played in Spain before moving to Chelsea in 2018. He has also played for Basconia and Athletic Bilbao.