Thibaut Courtois: Real Madrid confirm new Kepa on loan from Chelsea

LALIGA EA SPORTS giants Real Madrid have confirmed the transfer of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizagbala from Chelsea.

Kepa has joined the club on a season-long loan from the Premier League side that will see him replace Thibaut Courtois in goal at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

Real confirmed the transfer through a statement on their official website on Monday morning. 

Los Blancos noted in a statement that Kepa will be at the club on loan until the summer of 2024.

“Real Madrid C. F. and Chelsea FC have agreed the loan of the player Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is linked to the club during this season, until June 30, 2024,” the club said in a statement.

The arrival of the Spanish goalkeeper means an end to the speculation that linked Real with a move for free agent, David De Gea as a replacement for Courtois.

As reported by Pulse Sports Nigeria, former Chelsea goalkeeper Courtois was ruled out for the season after he damaged his knee in training.

During one of their final preseason sessions, the Belgium goalkeeper was practising with his Real Madrid teammates when he injured his left knee.

The Red Devils goalkeeper was "in tears" as he was extended off the field, according to the report.

Courtois, 31, was later confirmed by the club to have suffered an ACL which would require him to go under the knife and subsequently miss several months.

“After the tests carried out on our player Thibaut Courtois, he’s been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee. The player will undergo surgery in the coming days,” the club said.

Real Madrid have now swiftly moved to replace the Belgian with Los Blancos heading back to Stamford Bridge for another pair of safe hands.

In his five seasons at Chelsea he won one Champions League, one Club World Cup, one European Super Cup and one Europa League.

Kepa also won the award for the best save in the Premier League for the 2022-2023 season. However, Kepa has chose to leave the Blues who signed Robert Sanchez from Brighton and Hove Albion as Mauricio Pochettino looked to foster competition in the team.

Kepa is an international with the Spanish national team, with which he has been proclaimed champion of the Nations League 2023. With Spain he also won the European Under-19 Championship in 2012.