Kepa Arrizabalaga is willing to come to Arsenal as a nominal backup to fight for the number-one spot with David Raya, according to David Ornstein.
Late last week, reports broke that Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was closing in on a move to Arsenal, and David Ornstein gave the latest on the transfer in a recent appearance on The Athletic FC Podcast.
“There’s a £5m release clause in the contract he signed before going on loan (to Bournemouth), so relatively low cost for a high level goalkeeper,” Ornstein explained.
“We believe that he’s agreed to join Arsenal, and that means Arsenal will then need to pay the release clause.
“It’s not done yet, and they’ll have to go through some steps…but certainly it’s a situation that has advanced and is being worked on.”
Ornstein also explained why Arsenal have decided to go for Kepa, and it seems part of the appeal is that the goalkeeper isn’t expecting to immediately become first choice.
“Given the options available on the market, given Kepa’s nationality, Spanish [just like] Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s current goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana, and also their goalkeeper David Raya, given the future at Chelsea not really existing for Kepa…him being London-based. There’s a lot of ways in which that could align (with a move to Arsenal),” Ornstein added.
“All indications we’ve had is that Kepa despite being a number one last season in the Premier League, he is prepared to switch to the Emirates Stadium and fight for a place with Raya, even if that means nominally being number two.
“I don’t see [Raya] being displaced as the number one, let’s be clear on that. But to be pushed is important, without having an unhealthy tension.
“I don’t think [Kepa is] going to come in aggressively to try and throw Raya out of the net.”
It’s true that Kepa spent the last season playing regularly for another Premier League side in Bournemouth, and the 30-year-old will likely feel he still has the capability to be a first-choice goalkeeper at a top-level club.
But the Chelsea goalkeeper is a long way off first choice with his current club, and he showed he’s able to accept a backup role in the second half of his previous loan spell with Real Madrid.
After beginning the 2023/24 season as Real Madrid’s starting goalkeeper, the Spaniard suffered an Adductor injury in November, and returned to find Andriy Lunin had taken his spot.
Kepa only made six appearances in the final six months of that season, but he didn’t kick up a fuss about it. With any luck, he’ll be similarly professional if he ends up behind Raya next season.