Chelsea set for massive £50m+ loss on huge earner amid latest transfer development

The most expensive goalkeeper in football history is expected to leave West London for a nominal fee compared to the one that was paid for him in 2018.

Kepa Arrizabalaga was signed by Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri for a fee of £71.6m - which at the time made the former Athletic Bilbao man the most expensive player in the club’s history.

The Spainard was tipped to become a star for club and country in years to come and the promising goalkeeper was handed a seven year contract upon his arrival.

Kepa’s arrival softened the blow of Thibaut Courtois’ departure to Real Madrid and the goalkeeper instantly became the club’s first choice starter as they made it to the final of the Carabao Cup.

However, he hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons during the final when he refused to be substituted for fellow goalkeeper Willy Caballerao ahead of a nail biting penalty shoot-out loss to Manchester City.

Kepa was briefly dropped from the first team as a result of his actions but was restored to the lineup in time for his team’s Europa League victory in 2019.

The goalkeeper remained in the team during Frank Lampard’s time in the dugout but became a peripheral figure after Thomas Tuchel’s arrival, with the German instead putting his faith in Edouard Mendy.

Kepa watched from the bench as his team lifted the Champions League, but he was restored to the lineup by Graham Potter in 2022/23 in a chaotic campaign which saw the club fall to the bottom half of the table.

The Spanish international was frozen out by incoming coach Mauricio Pochettino and is currently on loan at Real Madrid where he is once again replacing the injured Courtois.

Kepa has established himself as a regular for Carlo Ancelotti’s side and is enjoying a resurgence in his career.

The player has made no secret of his desire to leave Chelsea for good during an interview with The Sun, and it is thought that the Spanish giants also want to make the move permanent.

Kepa has 20 months remaining on his deal at Chelsea and is believed to be earning an eye-watering wage of around £176,000 a week. The Blues are keen to move the player on to get him off the wage bill but Madrid are reportedly only willing to pay a figure of £17.5m for the 29-year-old.

This would be a loss of over £54m from the fee that Chelsea initially paid for the goalkeeper.