1. KEPA ARRIZABALAGA
Goalkeeper
Born: 23 Oct 1994,
Ondarroa, Spain
Height: 6' 02"
Weight:
Previous Clubs: Atletico Bilbao
International: Spain
Signing Date: August 2018
Chelsea Appearances
Chelsea Goals Scored
Kepa Arrizabalaga Revuelta, sometimes known simply
as Kepa, was signed by Chelsea in August and became the most expensive
goalkeeper in the world. At Athletic Bilbao, he played his first
professional games on loan at Ponferradina and Real Valladolid, in
Segunda División. Arrizabalaga won the 2012 European Championship with
Spain's under-19 team and made his senior debut in 2017, being selected
for the 2018 World Cup.
Arrizabalaga joined Athletic Bilbao's youth setup at Lezama in 2004,
aged ten. He made his senior debut with the farm team in January 2012,
in Tercera División.
On 5 May 2012, Arrizabalaga was called up to the main squad for a La
Liga match against Getafe CF
Arrizabalaga was promoted to the reserves in January 2013, to cover for
injured Jon Ander Serantes. He made his debut for the B-side on 16
February 2013, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win over UD Logroñés for
the Segunda División B championship. On 3 March, he was sent off towards
the end of a 3–1 home win over SD Amorebieta, as was teammate Jon
García; in April he suffered a pubalgia, only returning to the fields in
September.
Arrizabalaga appeared regularly for the B's after his return, but broke
the first metacarpal of his right hand in January 2014, being sidelined
for a month. On 11 March, Getafe submitted a loan request to the Lions
for him, mainly as a replacement to injured Miguel Ángel Moyà, but it
was rejected a day later.
On 5 January 2015, Arrizabalaga was loaned to Segunda División's SD
Ponferradina until June. He finally made his professional debut on the
11th, starting in a 1–1 home draw against Racing de Santander.
On 20 July 2015, Arrizabalaga moved to Real Valladolid also in the
second tier, in a season-long loan deal. He played his first competitive
game on 22 August, in a 0–1 loss at Córdoba CF, and missed only three
matches as his team finished 16th.
After returning from loan, Arrizabalaga was definitely included in the
first team, initially as third-choice behind Gorka Iraizoz and Iago
Herrerín. He made his debut in the top flight on 11 September 2016,
starting in a 1–0 away win over Deportivo de La Coruña.
On 22 January 2018, amidst heavy transfer speculation linking him to
Real Madrid, Arrizabalaga renewed his contract – due to expire in June –
until 2025.[
On 8 August 2018, Athletic Bilbao announced on their website that
Arrizabalaga had paid his required release clause (€80 million / £71.6
million), making him the world's most expensive goalkeeper, only weeks
after the record was set by Allison's transfer to Liverpool. Later that
day, his transfer to Chelsea was confirmed.
After appearing for the under-18s, Arrizabalaga was called up to the
under-19 team for that year's UEFA European Championship. He was an
undisputed starter during the tournament, as his side were crowned
champions; highlights included a 3–3 semi-final success against France,
where he saved two penalties in the shootout.
Arrizabalaga missed the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup due to injury, being
replaced by Rubén Yáñez. On 8 November 2013 he was called up to the
under-21 team, along with Athletic teammate Iker Muniain.
Arrizabalaga was called up to the senior side on 22 March 2017 ahead of
a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Israel and a friendly with
France, as a late replacement for the injured Pepe Reina. He earned his
first cap on 11 November of that year, playing the full 90 minutes in a
5–0 friendly win over Costa Rica in Málaga.
Arrizabalaga was named in Spain’s 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World
Cup in Russia.