Chelsea finally accept €74m loss on record signing
According to a rumor, Kepa Arrizabalaga will only need to pay €6 million to leave Chelsea next summer.
The Spaniard, who remains the most costly goalkeeper in history, is spending the season at Bournemouth on loan. Kepa is currently in goal at the Vitality Stadium in front of fewer than 12,000 spectators following a brief stay with Real Madrid the previous season.
The 30-year-old has been reliable without appearing to be a world-record player, as is usual with Kepa. In order to prevent losing him for nothing the following summer, Chelsea had to extend his contract by one year before to his departure to the South Coast.
His contract would have been up in 2025 but as the Blues failed to find a buyer in the previous transfer window, a new deal and a loan was the only solution for a player who once commanded a fee of €80 million.
Bournemouth do not have a purchase option or obligation, but the Cherries could still sign the shot-stopper permanently next year.
Kepa’s bargain release clause
According to the Daily Mail, the former Athletic Club star had a release clause inserted in his new Chelsea contract, allowing him to finally leave the club next summer.
If triggered, any potential transfer would see Chelsea make an eye-watering loss on Kepa because his clause is worth just €6m, the report claims. The loss would amount to a whopping €74m.
At this stage, it is too early to know where the goalkeeper will end up next summer. Bournemouth could look to make his stay permanent, but he may also return to Spain. He had initially wanted to remain at Real Madrid, but Los Blancos refused to make a move.
One thing is clear, though: it is highly unlikely for the Spaniard to return to Stamford Bridge. Head coach Enzo Maresca is keeping the faith in Robert Sanchez despite growing calls for Filip Jorgensen to be made No.1 and Kepa does not feature in his plans at all.