Arsenal Identify Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga as Top Backup Goalkeeper Target

Arsenal are reportedly considering a surprise move to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga as a backup option to current first-choice David Raya. The 30-year-old Spanish international, once the world's most expensive goalkeeper following his £72 million transfer to Chelsea in 2018, is now available for a significantly reduced fee of £5 million due to a release clause agreed upon before his loan to Bournemouth 

Kepa spent the 2024–2025 season on loan at Bournemouth, where he recorded eight clean sheets in 31 Premier League appearances. Despite his experience and previous accolades, he is no longer in Chelsea's plans and has been training away from the first-team squad under manager Enzo Maresca .

Arsenal's interest in Kepa comes as they seek a reliable backup for David Raya, who has solidified his position as the club's number one goalkeeper after winning consecutive Golden Glove awards. The Gunners had also been linked with Espanyol's Joan Garcia, but he now appears to be heading to Barcelona .

While Bournemouth are interested in re-signing Kepa, their lack of European football may be a disadvantage compared to Arsenal's ambitions. Additionally, Arsenal's young goalkeepers, Jack Porter and Tommy Setford, are not yet considered ready for key responsibilities, making the acquisition of an experienced backup like Kepa a strategic move 

Manager Mikel Arteta is keen to finalize the goalkeeper position swiftly to address other squad areas, including the pursuit of a new centre-forward. Targets include RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres, though both are expected to command significant transfer fees and face competition from other top clubs .

Kepa's potential move to Arsenal would continue the club's recent trend of signing former Chelsea players, following the acquisitions of Jorginho and Raheem Sterling. His experience and ability to play from the back align with Arteta's tactical preferences, making him a suitable candidate for the backup goalkeeper role 

As the transfer window progresses, Arsenal's pursuit of Kepa Arrizabalaga will be closely watched, with the potential to bolster their squad depth ahead of the new season