Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Chelsea goalkeeper, is reportedly in talks to make a move to Al Ittihad of the Saudi Pro League.
Arrizabalaga came in for the injured first choice Thibaut Courtois.
But while he was loaned at Real Madrid last season, the keeper made only 20 appearances for the Galacticos as the Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin had replaced him after he had fallen out of favor.
Together with the fact that he signed a deal until 2025 with Chelsea and was then loaned to Real Madrid, his future is already unsure going into the next season as he now ponders on other opportunities after listening to some interest coming from the Saudi Pro League.
The 29-year-old who, despite his mixed form since his record-breaking transfer to Stamford Bridge, is still regarded as the world’s most expensive goalkeeper and he took to Instagram earlier this week and thanked all Real Madrid supporters, leading many to speculate that his time at the club might be coming to an end.
Along with ex-Chelsea midfielder Kante and Benzema, ex-Real Madrid forward, Arrizabalaga would most probably link up with them in Al Ittihad.
Also read: Chelsea Out Of The Race To Sign £51m-Rated Spanish Star Attacker
The keeper was never able to live up to his gigantic price tag at Chelsea but is incredibly successful.
His time in London yielded successes including UEFA Europa League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup titles.
Notably, he also celebrated a La Liga and Champions League double with Real Madrid last season.
Since joining Chelsea from Athletic Club back in 2018 for a record fee, Arrizabalaga has made 163 appearances for the Blues.
This will be another chapter in his career and perhaps an inlet to start all over in a league that is ever receiving talent from top European clubs.
The Saudi Pro League has recently been the destination for many Premier League stars moving into new challenges and highly paid contracts.
At Chelsea, the departure of Arrizabalaga would therefore be seen as a strategic reassessment of the goalkeeping options at the Bridge, essentially in balancing the features of squad depth with financial considerations.
Also Read: Samu Omorodion Addresses Chelsea’s £33m Bid
It will be upon what transpires in negotiations— playing time, being competitive, and personal choices, most probably.
His potential move to Al Ittihad underlines the global appeal that the Saudi Pro League now holds and its competitive nature, making great strides in hauling top-tier football talent.
Finally, if his future at Chelsea remains unclear, then a probable transfer to Al Ittihad will be quite possible.
