Is Kepa Arrizabalaga Leaving Chelsea? Why is Kepa Not Playing? Where is Kepa Arrizabalaga Now?
by Ushapriyanga
Updated Aug 14, 2023
Is Kepa Arrizabalaga Leaving Chelsea?
According to Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, Kepa Arrizabalaga, the goalkeeper, has been given permission to leave the club during the current transfer window. This means that Kepa is allowed to explore opportunities with other teams and potentially make a move to a different club.
Kepa's absence from Chelsea's first game of the season against Liverpool on Sunday was notable, as he was not selected to start. Instead, Robert Sanchez, who recently joined Chelsea from Brighton, was chosen as the starting goalkeeper for the match.
This development suggests that Kepa's future at Chelsea may be uncertain, and the club is open to considering offers for him. It remains to be seen which teams may be interested in acquiring Kepa's services and whether he will indeed depart from Chelsea in the near future.
Why is Kepa Not Playing?
According to Chelsea's head coach, Graham Potter, it is unlikely that goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will be able to play again before the World Cup due to a foot injury. Arrizabalaga, who is 28 years old, suffered the injury during Chelsea's 4-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. As a result of the injury, he had to be substituted at half-time.
This means that Arrizabalaga will likely miss out on playing for Chelsea in any upcoming matches before the World Cup. The severity of the foot injury is not specified, but it is significant enough to keep him sidelined for the time being.
This news is unfortunate for both Arrizabalaga and Chelsea, as they will have to rely on other goalkeepers to fill in for him until he recovers. The World Cup is a highly anticipated tournament, and it is disappointing for Arrizabalaga to potentially miss out on representing his country due to this injury.
Where is Kepa Arrizabalaga Now?
Kepa, a 28-year-old goalkeeper, has agreed to a temporary switch to play at the Santiago Bernabeu this season. This move does not include an option for a permanent transfer, indicating that he will return to his current club after the season ends.
The reason for Kepa's move is to replace Thibaut Courtois, the former Chelsea goalkeeper, who sustained a long-term knee injury during training. Kepa chose Real Madrid over Bayern Munich as his destination.
In response to Kepa's departure, Chelsea has signed fellow Spain international Robert Sanchez as their new No.1 goalkeeper. Sanchez joined Chelsea in a £25 million move from Brighton last week. However, it is uncertain whether Sanchez will be involved in Chelsea's upcoming match against Liverpool on Sunday, as he joined the club too late to be part of the pre-season tour to the United States.
Earlier in the transfer window, Chelsea had considered other goalkeeping options, such as Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia and Gregor Kobel from Borussia Dortmund. With Kepa leaving, Chelsea may revisit negotiations for these players or explore other alternatives.
It is worth noting that Kepa was the longest-serving senior player in Chelsea's squad prior to his departure. The new captain of the team is Reece James, who takes over this role.
Who is Kepa Arrizabalaga?
Kepa Arrizabalaga Revuelta, commonly known as Kepa, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Chelsea in the Premier League and the Spain national team. He was born on October 3, 1994.
Kepa started his senior club career at Athletic Bilbao. He initially played for their youth team, Basconia, and then went on loan to Ponferradina and Real Valladolid between 2011 and 2016. After his loan spells, he returned to Bilbao and established himself as a regular in the first team.
In 2018, Kepa made headlines when he became the subject of a record-breaking transfer in football history. Chelsea signed him for a fee of €80 million (£72 million), which was the highest ever paid for a goalkeeper at that time. This transfer showcased the high regard in which Kepa was held as a talented goalkeeper.
Name
Kepa Arrizabalaga Revuelta
Age
28 years
Birthdate
October 3rd, 1994
Height
1.86 m
Weight
89 kg
Net worth
$28 million
Salary
$10.1 million
During his time at Chelsea, Kepa has achieved notable success. He played a crucial role in helping the team win the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup. These achievements solidified his reputation as one of the top goalkeepers in European football.
On the international stage, Kepa has also represented Spain. He won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship with the Spanish under-19 team in 2012. In 2017, he made his senior debut for the national team and was subsequently selected to represent Spain in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Kepa's career trajectory, from his early loan spells to his record-breaking transfer and subsequent success at Chelsea, highlights his exceptional talent and potential as a goalkeeper. His performances both at club and international level have earned him recognition as one of the top goalkeepers in the game.
Kepa Arrizabalaga Career
Kepa Arrizabalaga's journey through the Spanish national teams has been quite impressive. After making appearances for Spain's under-18 team, he was called up to the under-19 team for the UEFA European Championship.
During the tournament, he was the starting goalkeeper and played a crucial role in helping his team become champions. One of the highlights of the tournament was a thrilling 3-3 draw against France in the semi-finals, where Arrizabalaga saved two penalties in the shootout.
Unfortunately, Arrizabalaga missed the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup due to an injury. He was replaced in the tournament squad by Rubén Yáñez. However, his talent and potential did not go unnoticed, and on 8 November 2013, he received a call-up to the under-21 team along with his teammate Iker Muniain from Athletic Bilbao.
The biggest milestone in Arrizabalaga's international career came on 22 March 2017 when he was called up to the senior national team. This was for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Israel and a friendly match against France. He was a late replacement for the injured Pepe Reina. Arrizabalaga made his senior debut on 11 November of the same year, playing the full 90 minutes in a friendly match against Costa Rica, which Spain won convincingly with a 5-0 scoreline in Málaga.
His performances and potential did not go unnoticed by the national team management, as Arrizabalaga was named in Spain's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia. This was a significant achievement for him, and it showcased the trust and belief that the Spanish football authorities had in his abilities.
In summary, Kepa Arrizabalaga's journey through the Spanish national teams has seen him progress from the youth levels to the senior squad. Along the way, he has experienced success, including winning the UEFA European Championship with the under-19 team. His performances earned him a spot in Spain's World Cup squad, which further solidified his status as a talented and promising goalkeeper.
Kepa Arrizabalaga Stats
Arrizabalaga is a highly regarded young goalkeeper who has been praised for his skills and abilities on the field. He is known for his consistency, speed, agility, and shot-stopping ability, which allows him to make brilliant saves. His quick reflexes are particularly impressive.
In addition to his shot-stopping abilities, Arrizabalaga is also known for his footwork, distribution, and skill with the ball at his feet. He is able to act as a sweeper keeper, meaning he can rush off his line to intercept and play the ball out of the back. This skill is particularly valuable in Maurizio Sarri's possession-based system that relies on a high back-line.
Former goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has praised Arrizabalaga for his strong and good movement on the field. He also noted that Arrizabalaga is capable of saving the ball with his feet, which is a valuable skill for a goalkeeper. Almunia also described Arrizabalaga as having presence and character, indicating that he has the qualities of a great goalkeeper.
National Team
Year
Apps
Goals
Spain
2017
1
0
2018
2
0
2019
7
0
2020
1
0
2023
2
0
Total
13
0
Andoni Goikoetxea, a former Athletic Bilbao defender, has highlighted Arrizabalaga's strength in the air. He noted that Arrizabalaga is excellent at jumping and catching the ball, which is an important skill for a goalkeeper.
Richard Fitzpatrick of Bleacher Report also commended Arrizabalaga for his ability to marshal a defense. This means that he is skilled at organizing and leading his defense, ensuring that they are positioned correctly and making the right decisions.
Overall, Arrizabalaga is a highly promising and talented young goalkeeper, known for his impressive shot-stopping ability, footwork, distribution, and leadership skills. He has the potential to become one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.
Is Kepa Arrizabalaga Leaving Chelsea-FAQs
According to Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, it has been confirmed that Kepa Arrizabalaga has been given permission to leave the club during the current transfer window.
According to Chelsea head coach Graham Potter, Kepa Arrizabalaga is unlikely to play again before the World Cup due to a foot injury.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to join Real Madrid on a temporary basis for the upcoming season.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is a talented Spanish goalkeeper who currently plays for Chelsea in the Premier League and represents the Spain national team.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is known for his consistency, speed, agility, shot-stopping ability, footwork, distribution, and leadership skills. He has the potential to become one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.