Real Madrid sign goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea on a season-long loan deal

Real Madrid have signed Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea on a season-long loan deal.

He will replace Thibaut Courtois, who recently sustained an ACL tear and will be out for the season.

You see, football fans? This is how the transfer market can work! No long, drawn-out transfer sagas, working out what everyone eats for breakfast and cross-checking flight numbers of every plane that leaves Charles De Gaulle airport. Just like that, in a flash and with a puff of smoke, after being linked with De Gea and Bono, Real Madrid have themselves a new number one.

Thibaut Courtois left Real Madrid training last week in tears after sustaining an ACL tear on the eve of the opening weekend of LaLiga. Along with Militão, who suffered the same fate a few days later, the injury will most likely keep Courtois out for the rest of the season and the surprise holes to fill in the defence has put overtime hours on everyone’s schedule who works at Real Madrid.

Kepa arrives from Chelsea after joining the English club in 2018 from Athletic Club, the team that Real Madrid beat 2-0 on the opening day of the season. He featured for the club 54 times in the 2018/19 campaign, which ended with Chelsea lifting the Europa League trophy. After that, Kepa lost his place in the first team to Edouard Mendy. At Chelsea, he won the Champions League, the Europa League, the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup; most recently, Kepa won the Nations League with Spain.

The 28-year-old had also caught the eye of Bayern Munich, but it is Real Madrid who have moved quickest to seal the deal for their new goal-Kepa. His deal runs until 30 June 2024.