Kepa Arrizabalaga is reportedly training away from Chelsea’s first-team, seemingly confirming that his time at Stamford Bridge is almost over.
The goalkeeper spent last season on loan at Real Madrid and though he hoped to make that switch permanent, he has now returned to Cobham for pre-season training.
Chelsea stars who have not been away on international duty this summer returned to work under new manager Enzo Maresca a few days ago, but the Daily Mail report that Kepa is training separately from the other first-team players.
If true, it is the clearest indication yet that the Blues want to sell off the Spaniardthis transfer window and raise whatever funds they can from him.
Kepa has just one year left on his contract and is attracting interest from the Saudi Pro League, specifically Al-Ittihad where he could reunite with former Chelsea teammate N’Golo Kante.
The 29-year-old is still the world’s most expensive goalkeeper after moving to Stamford Bridge from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 in a deal worth over £71million.
He won the Europa League in his first season in west London but soon found himself out of favour after a series of underwhelming performances.
Edouard Mendy was initially signed to replace him as the No.1 keeper, and despite a brief renaissance in the 2022/23 season, Kepa’s future at the club looked all but over last summer when they brought in both Robert Sanchez and Dorde Petrovic.
Real signed him as an emergency loan after Thibaut Courtois suffered an ACL injury, but he failed to impress and lost the No.1 spot to Andriy Lunin, though he still left Madrid a La Liga and Champions League winner.
Additionally, he also won the UCL, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup in 2021 with Chelsea and also helped them reach three FA Cup and two League Cup finals.
There have been more incomings than outgoings at Stamford Bridge so far this summer, with Renato Veiga becoming Maresca’s fifth signing on Friday.
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