Amid Real Madrid links, why staying at Bournemouth could be Kepa's best move | OneFootball

Spanish giants Real Madrid have reignited their interest in Kepa Arrizabalaga, according to Spanish publication AS. The Spaniard, who initially signed for Chelsea in 2018, is currently on loan at fellow Premier League club Bournemouth. He previously played for Los Blancos on loan during the 2023-24 season.

Arrizabalaga joined Chelsea as the world's most expensive goalkeeper but endured a mixed spell at Stamford Bridge. While he won several titles, his time in London was far from ideal on a personal level. He started as the first-choice goalkeeper in his debut season but spent much of his Chelsea career competing for the starting spot. At times, he was clearly the second choice behind Edouard Mendy.

At the start of the 2023-24 season, Arrizabalaga was expected to reclaim his spot as Chelsea’s No. 1, even as the club explored options to offload him. However, an ACL injury to Thibaut Courtois prompted Real Madrid to sign him on loan as cover. Despite this opportunity, his form after returning from injury saw Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, originally Courtois’ understudy, become Carlo Ancelotti’s preferred option until Courtois recovered.

Although Arrizabalaga hoped to secure a permanent move to Real Madrid, the transfer never materialized. Instead, in the closing stages of the 2024 summer transfer window, he extended his Chelsea contract before joining Bournemouth as a replacement for Neto, who left on loan to Arsenal.

Under Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth has been performing impressively in the Premier League. Arrizabalaga has been a key figure for the Cherries, who currently sit just four points away from a potential Champions League spot. They have also progressed to the FA Cup quarter-finals, where they will host Manchester City on Sunday.

Real Madrid’s renewed interest in Arrizabalaga reportedly stems from the uncertain future of Andriy Lunin. Despite recently signing a contract extension, Lunin is consistently linked with a move away due to limited game time. Given the length of his extension, Madrid could command a decent fee for him, and if he departs, they will need a reliable deputy for Courtois. Meanwhile, as per Football Insider, making Arrizabalaga's stay at Bournemouth permanent has become their priority target for the summer.

With just a year remaining on his Chelsea contract, the Blues are likely to seek a permanent sale for Arrizabalaga in the summer. However, at 30 years old, it is too early for him to settle for a backup role at any club. At Bournemouth, things are going well, he is the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, and the team is thriving. His Spanish teammate at the club, Dean Huijsen, recently earned a debut for Spain, demonstrating that playing for a non-elite club like Bournemouth does not hinder international aspirations. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, Arrizabalaga may have compelling reasons to stay where he is.