Bournemouth's Spanish goalkeeper #13 Kepa Arrizabalaga saves a shot from Arsenal's Belgian midfielder #19 Leandro Trossard (2L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 3, 2025.Bournemouth's Spanish goalkeeper #13 Kepa Arrizabalaga saves a shot from Arsenal's Belgian midfielder #19 Leandro Trossard (2L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 3, 2025.
Bournemouth's Spanish goalkeeper #13 Kepa Arrizabalaga saves a shot from Arsenal's Belgian midfielder #19 Leandro Trossard (2L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 3, 2025. | AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal are considering making a surprise move for a forgotten Chelsea star
Arsenal are weighing up a shock deal to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga - who is reportedly available for just £5m because of a release clause in his contract.
The Gunners have just two senior goalkeepers with David Raya the firm number one at the club. Neto has been the back-up during the most recent season but he is only on loan from Premier League rivals Bournemouth and is poised to return to the Cherries at the end of the month when his temporary move officially expires. Aaron Ramsdale left the club last summer after being the second choice, he is now being linked with West Ham.
It leaves Mikel Arteta without a back-up option ahead of the 2025-26 campaign but fresh reports have now claimed there is a surprise move being considered for Kepa.
Arsenal weighing up bargain deal for Kepa
Sky Sports Italy report that Kepa is available for just £5m this summer because of a release clause in his Chelsea contract - with the Gunners now mulling over a potential move.
Kepa joined Chelsea for £72m from Athletic Club in 2018 and has made 163 appearances for the Stamford Bridge club, keeping 59 clean sheets. He has become somewhat of a forgotten man at the Blues, however. He has not played for the club since the 2022-23 campaign and has spent the last two seasons out on loan.
He played for Real Madrid during the 2023-24 campaign, and made 20 appearances for the Spanish side as they won La Liga and the Champions League. Last summer, he joined Bournemouth on a season-long loan. He made 35 appearances for the Cherries, keeping nine clean sheets.
Kepa played both Premier League games against Arsenal last term, keeping a clean sheet at the Vitality Stadium and conceding once at the Emirates Stadium as the Cherries completed a league double over the Gunners.
Why have Bournemouth not pursued £5m move for Kepa?
Kepa is under contract for just one more year at Chelsea, who will now look to cash in on the player rather than send him out on loan again. Bournemouth have a number of options at goalkeeper, which could be why the club have yet to make their move for Kepa.
Asked about the player’s future last month, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said: “I think it is a matter of negotiating with Kepa himself and with Chelsea. I think both sides are very happy with his loan spell.
“I think he has performed really well, and his character and experience have been very valuable for us. In a really young team, to have someone with his experience of fighting regularly for titles has been really lovely.
“But we still have Neto, [Mark] Travers and [Alex] Paulsen, so we will see in pre-season what decisions we take. There will definitely be changes in that position though, yes.”
Kepa would have a better chance of earning the number one spot at Bournemouth given that was his role last season while with Arsenal he would have a tough time displacing Raya, who enjoyed another strong season between the posts.
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