'Kepa set for Bournemouth exit after major transfer update'

03/18/2025 12:18 PM

Kepa Arrizabalaga will not be returning to Bournemouth once his loan spell with the club expires in the summer, as the latest transfer updates reveal club bosses’ thinking.

The goalkeeper joined Andoni Iraola’s side back in the summer transfer window, signing on a season-long loan from Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Since then, the Spaniard has largely been first choice for the Cherries between the posts throughout much of the campaign.

That has led to suggestions that Kepa is keen to stay at Bournemouth beyond the end of his loan spell with the club, although it looks as though he will be unable to do that.

Bournemouth in pursuit of alternative goalkeeper

According to a report from talkSPORT on 18 March the Cherries are currently leading the race to sign Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in the summer transfer window.

If that move does go through, it is hard to see how the Irishman will be able to share a dressing room with Kepa at Bournemouth as both would surely expect to be first choice.

Kelleher is apparently keen to leave Liverpool to get more game time, having played second fiddle to Alisson for several years.

It is therefore unlikely he would agree a move to the Vitality Stadium if Kepa was to stay at the club as number one next season.

Equally, the reason Kepa left Chelsea in the summer appeared to be related to him dropping down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge following his world-record signing.

He too is therefore unlikely to be happy with a second choice role in Andoni Iraola’s squad, especially after a spell as number one.

It is unlikely either goalkeeper would be cheap in terms of wages, so signing both would make little financial sense for Bournemouth in the summer too.

So with the Cherries seemingly so confident of a deal for Kelleher, that almost certainly means Kepa will not be returning to the Vitality Stadium once his loan spell comes to an end.

Kepa to face uncertain future this summer

It is also worth noting that a return to Chelsea to play regular football looks unlikely for the Spaniard as well.

The Blues extended his contract until the end of the 2025/26 season when he moved to Bournemouth last summer.

That though means the upcoming transfer window will represent potentially their last chance to cash in on him.

Many Chelsea fans have called for Djordje Petrovic to be number one when he returns from his loan spell with Strasbourg next season, amid a revolving door of underwhelming performances from Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen this term.

Indeed, Kepa’s name has hardly been mentioned when Enzo Maresca’s goalkeeping options for next season have been discussed.

As a result, the 30-year-old could once again find himself looking for a new club in the summer transfer window.

However, he has not always covered himself in glory this season, such as when conceding a penalty in Bournemouth’s recent draw with Tottenham.

Those sorts of incidents could make other clubs wary about a potential move for Kepa at that point given the price they might have to pay.

With that in mind, while an exit from Bournemouth may now look likely, what happens after that for Kepa appears far less clear.

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