Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga in talks over potential Al Ittihad move

VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN - DECEMBER 21: Kepa Arrizabalaga of Real Madrid applauds the fans in the warm up prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Madrid CF at Estadio de Mendizorroza on December 21, 2023 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Jul 12, 2024

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is in talks over a potential move to Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad.

Arrizabalaga spent last season on loan at Real Madrid but the 29-year-old made only one start for the Spanish club after January.

Arrizabalaga had joined Madrid following an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained by Thibaut Courtois during pre-season last summer. The Spaniard then began the season as Madrid’s No 1 but lost his place to Andriy Lunin midway through the campaign.

Despite initially looking like Arrizabalaga would go back to Chelsea following his loan spell — with the goalkeeper substituted on for Courtois in the second half of Madrid’s final game of the season — The Athletic reported earlier this week that he could well end up returning to Madrid amid uncertainty over a potential contract extension for Lunin.

GO DEEPER

Real Madrid goalkeepers: Arrizabalaga not out of the picture with Lunin's future uncertain

Madrid have compiled reports on other goalkeepers, but any potential move depends on the board’s approval.

Arrizalabaga has yet to take a decision over his future but The Athletic previously reported that he would prefer to stay in Madrid rather than coming back to London.

However, voices within his camp confirm that there is still a pending conversation with Chelsea to decide his future. For now, he is under contract with Chelsea until 2025 and it remains to be seen whether the Premier League side would allow him to leave on a free transfer.

“Thank you for all the support during the year Madridistas,” Arrizabalga posted on Instagram last month. “No better way to end the season. We are the champions of Europe.”

Al Ittihad, meanwhile, were one of four clubs taken over by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) last summer. That prompted a spending spree which included signing Karim Benzema, Fabinho and Arrizbalaga’s former Chelsea team-mate N’Golo Kante.

GO DEEPER

Real Madrid loan has not worked as hoped for Kepa - but he's still committed

Additional reporting: Adam Leventhal

(Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Get all-access to exclusive stories.

Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.

Guillermo began his career covering Real Madrid and the sports industry for Diario AS. He later moved to London and became AS and Cadena Ser correspondent. He has since returned to Madrid and joins us at The Athletic where he will deliver Real Madrid news, interviews, stories, and more.