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Spanish giants Real Madrid have announced the signing of Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan for a year. Madrid have been forced to act quickly following a serious injury to first choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is out for months following an ACL tear. Courtois sustained the injury during training and forced Madrid back into the transfer market after the club announced they had concluded any business for the summer already.
Real Madrid announced the signing on Monday, August 14 and stated that Kepa would be at the club until June 30th of next year. They also listed the Spaniard’s achievements at Chelsea and with the national team.
The statement read, “Real Madrid C.F. and Chelsea FC have agreed on the loan of the player Kepa Arrizabalaga, who remains attached to the club this season, until June 30, 2024. In his five seasons at Chelsea he has won 1 Champions League, 1 Club World Cup, 1 European Super Cup and 1 Europa League. This year he has received the award for the best save in the Premier League for the 2022-2023 season. Kepa is international with the Spanish team, with which he has been proclaimed champion of the 2023 Nations League. With Spain he also won the European Under-19 in 2012.”
Kepa unlikely to start for Madrid over Lunin
While the high profile move will be the subject of discussion for Madrid fans this week, it is unlikely that Kepa will be immediately replacing Lunin as the starting goalkeeper. Madrid manager Ancelotti revealed that any incoming goalkeeper would be a backup first and would have to earn their place as a starter.
The 24-year-old Lunin has been Courtois’s understudy for a long time and will finally get the chance to compete at the highest level consistently. Real Madrid have opted to sign another goalkeeper despite this because the backup to Lunin at the moment is a youth goalkeeper called Fran Gonzalez, who is only 17-years-old.
Ancelotti said, “Behind Lunin, the goalkeepers have potential, but they are young. We will think about it. Fran is 17 years old. If we sign [a goalkeeper] it will be because of the number [of goalkeepers we have]. We have total confidence in Lunin and the next few days we will see if we add one more goalkeeper to the squad."
