Chelsea’s Kepa Hopes Real Madrid Gives Him Permanent Deal

Real Madrid’s newest loanee, Kepa Arrizabalaga hopes the Spanish giants make his deal permanent at the end of the 2023-2024 season.

On Tuesday, August 15, Real Madrid unveiled Kepa as the club’s new signing (on loan from Chelsea) and he is believed to be a replacement for the injured Thibaut Courtois.

Courtois who is that club’s first-choice goalkeeper, tore his ACL during training about a week ago, prompting Real Madrid to swiftly bring in Kepa, who was just about to transfer from Chelsea to Bayern Munich this summer.

The 28-year-old out-of-favour Spain international joined Real Madrid after the club’s first La Liga match of the season which Andriy Lunin started in goal. The game ended in a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club.

Kepa will have the chance to start for Madrid for the majority of this season because Courtois is anticipated to be sidelined for about seven months.

However, the Spanish goalie will have to compete with Lunin for a starting shirt starting from this weekend when Madrid visit Almeria on Saturday.

When Kepa was asked if he would want to remain at Real Madrid permanently, the Spanish goalie said, “Let’s hope so.

“Today is the first day. I’m here on loan. But we have time and we’ll see. Let’s hope with my effort, and my performance above all, I can make that happen.”

Kepa spent five years at Stamford Bridge which he joined from Athletic Club in August 2018 for a record-breaking €80 million transfer fee.

He was Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper throughout his first two seasons at the club before he lost his starting spot and then regained it during the 2022–2023 season.