Kepa Arrizabalaga has become our first signing of the 2025 summer transfer window after making the switch from Chelsea, but how much do you know about him?
The 30-year-old has joined on a long-term deal and will be linking up with some familiar faces from his time in west London and with the Spanish national team.
While he'll also be a recognisable face to our supporters who would have seen Kepa in action in the Premier League since his debut in 2018, here are some facts you may not know about our new number 13!
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Basque Beginnings
Growing up in Ondarroa, a small fishing village on the Basque coast, Kepa first started playing for Athletic Club when he was nine, which involved travelling to Lezama, a village close to Bilbao.
This involved getting a 45-minute taxi with three childhood friends, three or four times a week after school. That hard work paid off as by 16, he was told by their goalkeeping coach that he would start training with the first team, and after a stint in the B team, a full debut would come in September 2016 when he was 21.
LOVE FOR THE GLOVES
Not every player knows which position they will want to play when they grow up, but that wasn’t the case for Kepa. Our new goalkeeper had his heart set on a pair of gloves from a young age.
Recalling in the Players’ Tribune, he said: “We would walk past this sports shop near our home, and every time we passed it I would say: ‘I want the gloves, I want the glooooves!’ In the end they [my parents] gave in.
“The pair they bought were way too large, but I had already fallen in love. When they offered to change them for a smaller pair, I said, “No! I want these!” And then I went to training with gloves that went up to my elbows."
Gold Kepa
While many footballers have hidden talents, the ability to make birds sing might not be the first trait you would expect. Along with his father, Kepa used to keep goldfinches and teach them how to sing.
So good was his ability, he won regional bird singing competitions. In 2008 and 2010, he was named the Songbirds Champion of Vizcaya. "I train the birds whenever I can, between training and studies," recounted a young Kepa after one of his title triumphs in which he stunned the judges.
Student of the game
While describing his goalkeeping style as proactive, Kepa has always kept a close eye on his peers between the sticks for inspiration. Kepa revealed he used to study the likes of Iker Casillas, Manuel Neuer and ex-Gunner Petr Cech in order to master his own game.
Cech was technical director at Chelsea during Kepa's time at Stamford Bridge, who was keen to lean on him for advice: "We speak every day, as he’s around here at Cobham," Kepa said at the time. "We speak about everything, he’s always close to the goalkeepers."
Euro winner
Kepa has represented his country at every level from under-18 right up to the national team, earning his first cap in November 2017 against Costa Rica as a substitute for Pepe Reina. He currently has 13 caps for his nation, and was in their squads for the 2018 World Cup as well as the 2023 Nations League success, alongside new clubmate David Raya.
Kepa's heroics also helped Spain win the U19 European Championship, saving two penalties in the semi-final success against France on the path to glory.
Inspirational manager
During his time coming through the ranks at Bilbao Kepa worked under several coaches, but there’s one that he remembers fondly in Marcelo Bielsa. The Argentine has been credited with the development of many players during a long career, and Kepa is no different.
Despite not playing under the manager, our Spanish goalkeeper hailed him a ‘genius’ and that joining the first team at just 16 helped develop his maturity at a young age.
Record breaker
Following success at Bilbao, a move to Real Madrid was reported. However, it was Chelsea that came calling. The deal that saw Kepa go from Basque to Stamford Bridge cost a reported £72 million, a world record fee for a goalkeeper that still stands to this day.
In second spot is Liverpool's Alisson who cost £67 million, while Manchester United's Andre Onana is third on £50 million.
Save of the season
Kepa’s last season representing Chelsea came in the 2022/23 campaign when he patrolled the posts 29 times in the top-flight. That included a run of 10 matches without conceding, and keeping his 50th clean sheet for the Blues.
While his side ended the campaign without any silverware, he won the Premier League Save of the Season for his remarkable stop to deny Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey in a win at Villa Park.
EXCLUSIVE CLUB
Having won the Europa League, World Club Cup and UEFA Super Cup with Chelsea, as well as a La Liga title at Real Madrid, Kepa has enjoyed a hugely decorated career to date, and he is one of just a small number to have picked up a Champions League winners medal with multiple clubs.
He was on the bench during Chelsea’s 1-0 success over Manchester City in Porto in 2021, and three years later, he made four appearances during Real's successful campaign, which culminated in them beating Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
Cherry picker
Having fallen out of favour at Chelsea, Kepa went on loan to Real Madrid in 2023/24, where injuries limited his playing time to just 20 matches. But the stopper made a successful return to Premier League action in 2024/25 while on loan at Bournemouth.
Kepa made 31 appearances for the Cherries in the top-flight, including two victories over us as Bournemouth finished in ninth place. On top of that, he scooped the Premier League Save of the Month award for February 2025 thanks to his reflex stop to deny Jean-Ricner Bellegarde of Wolves.
London link-up
The path between Stamford Bridge and Emirates Stadium has been a well-trodden one in recent years, and we have signed a player from Chelsea in each of the past four seasons. Raheem Sterling joined on a season-long loan in 2024/25, with Kai Havertz joining in 2023/24 and Jorginho making the switch in January 2023.
The likes of Cech, David Luiz, Willian, Yossi Benayoun and William Gallas have also swapped blue for red down the years.
Our 17th Spaniard
Kepa's arrival sees our long association with Spanish players continue, with 16 previously playing for our first-team since Cesc Fabregas became the first in 2003.
Mikel Merino became the latest when he signed from Basque country side Real Sociedad last year, with Raya the other countryman in the squad.
Smart stopper
In September 2021, Kepa etched his name into Chelsea history for his penalty heroics. His thwarting of Aston Villa’s Marvelous Nakamba was his seventh in a penalty shootout for the Blues, moving him clear of Cech.
His penalty shootout successes include denying Tottenham in the Carabao Cup semi-final in 2019, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-final in the same year. He also saved from Aissa Mandi and Raul Albiol to help Chelsea beat Villarreal in the European Super Cup in 2021.
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