Kepa Arrizabalaga
Chelsea Football Club on Wednesday night, announced the signing of 23-year-old Spanish international goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao, who signed a seven-year contract for the top Premier League club.
While speaking to Chelseafc.com, Kepa, who has played over 100 career league games, and has solid experience at the highest level having made more than 50 appearances in La Liga, said: "It’s a very important decision for me, for my career, and also for my personal life.
"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."
Chelsea’s director, Marina Granovskaia added: "Kepa is a talent we have admired for a long time and we are extremely excited about his arrival. He has already demonstrated fantastic quality and consistency and will be a big part of any success Chelsea have in the coming years.
"His long-term contract reflects the belief we have in him and we look ahead to the coming seasons with an enormous sense of optimism."
Having activated Kepa’s release clause earlier on Wednesday, Chelsea’s £71.6m deal surpasses the £67m Liverpool spent to bring Alisson Becker to Anfield earlier this summer.
Kepa will train with his new team-mates for the first time on Thursday, and will be available for their Premier League opener against Huddersfield on Saturday.
Kepa featured 30 times for Athletic in La Liga last season, keeping seven clean sheets, with his form earning him a call-up to Spain’s World Cup squad after making his national team debut last November.