ARSENAL have completed the acquisition of Chelsea Kepa Arrizabalaga from English Premier League rivals Chelsea after triggering the Spaniard’s £5 million release clause.
The 30-year-old leaves Stamford Bridge seven years after signing from Athletic Club in a £75m deal which remains the world-record transfer fee for a goalkeeper.
“Kepa Arrizabalaga became our first signing of the summer transfer window and his ambition is simple, he’s here to win,” Arsenal announced today.
“The Spaniard made the switch from Chelsea where he won four major honours, as well as three cups during a loan spell at Real Madrid.
Arrizabalaga revealed that conversations with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and goalkeeping coach Iñaki Caña influenced his decision to join the Gunners.
“We’re here to win,” he said in his first Arsenal interview. “I think we have a great team. I think we have great staff around here, the best facilities, so we have to prepare ourselves for this season and to have success.
“When I talk with Mikel [Arteta] and Inaki [Cana], they show me their desire to win. They showed me this ambition, how much they want to improve, how much they want to grow and I’m really here to help, to push and to win more.
“I spoke with Kai Havertz. He was with Martin Ordegaard so we were talking, we had a good chat together and they already started explaining a little bit about how everything works and how good the atmosphere is right now in the changing room. So, I can’t wait to join.”