Real Madrid have completed the signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea for the 2023-24 campaign.
The Spanish giants were left in need of goalkeeping reinforcements following an ACL injury to Thibaut Courtois which is expected to keep him out for the entire season.
Los Blancos have now confirmed the arrival of Kepa, who was deemed surplus to requirements by new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino following the arrival of Robert Sanchez earlier this summer.
The Spanish shot-stopper will now spend the current season with Real Madrid, before returning to Stamford Bridge next summer as the deal is not thought to include any option or obligation to buy.
Kepa will be officially unveiled by Real Madrid on Tuesday afternoon, and could make his debut for the club away to Almeria on Saturday.
👋 @kepa_46 👋#WelcomeKepa pic.twitter.com/z9kvorhkT7
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 14, 2023
Los Blancos opened their new campaign with a 2-0 victory over Kepa's former club Athletic Bilbao at the weekend, with debutant Jude Bellingham getting on the scoresheet alongside Rodrygo.
However, they were hit by another significant injury blow with Eder Militao suffering an ACL tear just days after Courtois sustained the same serious issue.
Kepa, who remains the most expensive goalkeeper of all time, returns to La Liga for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign, when he made 30 top-flight appearances for Athletic.
The 28-year-old made 163 appearances for Chelsea during his four seasons at Stamford Bridge, regaining his place from Edouard Mendy in the first team last season after making only 11 Premier League appearances in 2020-21 and 2021-22 combined.
Mendy has also left Chelsea this summer, while Gabriel Slonina has departed on loan, leaving Sanchez as the undisputed number one goalkeeper at the Premier League club.
Barney Corkhill
