Chelsea have been advised to reconsider their decision to sell Kepa Arrizabalaga to Arsenal, with former players urging the club to retain the Spanish goalkeeper instead of spending big on a replacement.
The Blues are close to finalising a £5 million deal that would see Kepa join Arsenal, where he is expected to play backup to David Raya. However, both Pat Nevin and Shaun Wright-Phillips believe Chelsea are making a mistake, particularly with the club still hunting for a new first-choice keeper after failing to sign Mike Maignan.
Despite his struggles since becoming the world’s most expensive goalkeeper in 2018, Kepa enjoyed a strong loan spell at Bournemouth last season. His performances have reportedly convinced Arsenal to bring him in as a reliable No. 2, especially following Neto’s underwhelming stint.
Nevin believes Chelsea could save themselves millions by keeping Kepa:
“Kepa is as good as any of the options we’re talking about. He’s improved with his feet and remains a fantastic shot-stopper. There’s no need to look globally for a new keeper when he’s already on the books,” the former winger told Spin Genie.
He added that goalkeepers, like centre-backs, often peak later in their careers, and Kepa’s development could now be coming to fruition.
Wright-Phillips echoed the sentiment, calling Chelsea’s plan “strange.”
“I don’t understand it. Kepa was unbelievable last season. He played a massive part in Bournemouth’s solid campaign. Why not bring him back instead of offloading him to a direct rival?” he told Betway.
Chelsea currently have multiple options in the goalkeeping department, including Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Gabriel Slonina, Mike Penders, and Lucas Bergstrom. However, Sanchez’s inconsistency last season left the position open for debate.
Both former Chelsea stars agree the focus should be on fixing the defence rather than replacing Kepa.
“Even the best keeper can’t save a poor back line,” Wright-Phillips said. “Fix the defence and Kepa will shine.”
Kepa, now 30, has two years left on his Chelsea contract. His move to the Emirates would mark a significant fall in transfer value from the £72 million Chelsea paid in 2018, but Arsenal view the deal as a low-risk solution.
With Chelsea still considering goalkeeper reinforcements, the club must now weigh whether selling Kepa is financially wise—or a move that could haunt them later in the season.