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Chelsea have made Kepa Arrizabalaga the world\u2019s most expensive goalkeeper as Maurizio Sarri\u2019s men swiftly moved to replace Real Madrid-bound Thibaut Courtois.<\/p>\nChelsea have made Kepa Arrizabalaga the world\u2019s most expensive goalkeeper as Maurizio Sarri\u2019s men swiftly moved to replace Real Madrid-bound Thibaut Courtois.<\/p>\n
Months of speculation surrounding the Belgium goalkeeper came to an end on Wednesday evening when it was announced that he would get his dream move to the Spanish capital.<\/p>\n
The deal that sees Courtois join Real Madrid for a reported $44.6million (\u00a335million) sees midfielder Mateo Kovacic head the other way on a season-long loan.<\/p>\n
But it is Chelsea\u2019s move to replace their first-choice goalkeeper that is most eye-catching.<\/p>\n
Kepa has signed a seven-year deal after joining from Athletic Bilbao, who confirmed earlier in the day that the 23-year-old\u2019s release clause of $92million (\u00a372.1m) was activated and his contract terminated.<\/p>\n
The statement made no mention of Chelsea, but the move represents a world record for a goalkeeper, surpassing the \u00a365m paid by Liverpool to Roma for Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker last month.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very important decision for me, for my career, and also for my personal life,\u201d Kepa told the club\u2019s official website.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo many things attracted me to the club, all the titles the club has won, the other players, the city, the English Premier League.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an accumulation of things, and I am very glad Chelsea has decided to trust me and to take me in as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kepa could make his Premier League debut against Huddersfield on Saturday after completing a deal that director Marina Granovskaia believes will be great for Chelsea.<\/p>\n
\u201cKepa is a talent we have admired for a long time and we are extremely excited about his arrival,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has already demonstrated fantastic quality and consistency and will be a big part of any success Chelsea have in the coming years.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis long-term contract reflects the belief we have in him and we look ahead to the coming seasons with an enormous sense of optimism.\u201d<\/p>\n
The seven-year deal certainly puts Chelsea in a position of strength which had been lacking with outgoing Courtois.<\/p>\n
With just a year remaining on his contract, the 26-year-old had been absent from training this week as he looked to push through a move before the transfer window ended for Chelsea on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Real Madrid have confirmed that Courtois will undergo a medical on Thursday morning, before signing a six-year deal and being presented at 1pm local time (7am EDT).<\/p>\n
Kovacic will join Chelsea on loan until June 30, 2019 as part of the deal, with the Croatia international spending a season away from the club he joined from Inter Milan in 2015.<\/p>\n