Who is Kepa? The lowdown on Chelsea’s new keeper

Swift rise

Kepa Arrizabalaga has been on Athletic Club’s books given he was nine, quickly rising by a ranks. After a integrate of seasons on loan in a second tier, he done his first-team entrance (keeping a purify piece during Deportivo) in Sep 2016. Kepa conceded only 22 goals in 23 outings in 2016/17; final season, notwithstanding finishing 16th, Athletic shipped fewer than fifth-placed Villarreal.

Playing style

Kepa denies Cristiano Ronaldo©AFP/Getty Images

“He has good reflexes, a good participation and good certainty that he transmits to others,” says Ernesto Valverde, a manager who gave him his Athletic entrance aged 21. Only dual keepers done some-more saves in a Liga final term, and he’s flattering good with his feet too – once deployed outfield during an damage predicament for his U14 team, he scored twice.

He scarcely assimilated Real Madrid

Kepa had seemed unfailing to join Real Madrid in January. However, a European champions reportedly had a late change of heart so a 23-year-old stayed, signing a new agreement in Bilbao. A few months after he showed a Merengues only what they had missed, producing several excellent stops as Athletic drew during a Bernabéu.

Gold Kepa

Kepa (L) after winning a 2012 U19 EURO©Sportsfile

Everybody needs a hobby and Kepa is no different. He’s doubtful to find too many Chelsea colleagues to share his, though: birds. Born on a Basque coast, Kepa used to hunt goldfinches with his father and sight them to sing. He was good, too, winning competitions with Oker, Rocky and Raikkonen.

International honours

Kepa has represented Spain during each turn from U18 upwards, creation his comparison crawl in a 5-0 win opposite Costa Rica in Nov 2017. He particularly starred as a Roja won a U19 EURO in 2012, saving dual penalties in a semi-final shoot-out opposite France en track to glory.

N.B. Never mind elaborate scouting networks, a Spaniard’s bravery had been signalled progressing this summer with his coming among a UEFA.com correspondents’ ones to watch in deteriorate 2018/19: https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2528631.html