Chelsea's Kepa Joins Real Madrid On Loan To Replace Courtois

Real Madrid have signed goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea, the Spanish club have confirmed.

Madrid moved for Kepa, 28, after first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered an ACL tear in training last week.

Courtois is expected to be unavailable for around seven months, meaning backup option Andriy Lunin started in Madrid’s 2-0 LaLiga win away at Athletic Club on Saturday.

Kepa was previously on the verge of joining Madrid from Athletic in January 2018, but a change of plans saw the club opt to sign Courtois later that year.

Kepa then replaced Courtois at Chelsea in a record €80 million ($87.6m) deal for a goalkeeper.

The Spain international had difficult five years at Stamford Bridge. He was first choice for his first two seasons but lost his place in the team to Édouard Mendy, and then regained it for much of the 2022-23 campaign.

Chelsea signed Kepa’s Spain teammate Robert Sánchez from Brighton as their new No. 1 last week.

Courtois’ long-term injury saw Madrid move quickly to identify an experienced, affordable replacement.