By Diyar Guldogan
ANKARA (AA) - Kepa Arrizabalaga became the most expensive goalkeeper in history after signing €80 million ($92.8 million) deal with Chelsea.
The club announced late Wednesday that 23-year-old Spanish international goalkeeper signed a seven-year-deal with Chelsea.
"It is a very important decision for me, for my career, and also for my personal life. So many things attracted me to the club, all the titles the club has won, the other players, the city, the English Premier League.
"It is an accumulation of things, and I am very glad Chelsea has decided to trust me and to take me in as well," a club statement quoted Kepa as saying.
Director Marina Granovskaia said the club was "extremely" excited about his arrival from Athletic Bilbao.
"He has already demonstrated fantastic quality and consistency and will be a big part of any success Chelsea have in the coming years," Granovskaia was quoted as saying in the statement.
According to the German football database website Transfermarkt, Kepa's current market value is €20 million ($23.2 million).
Just three weeks after Liverpool transferred Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker from Roma on a record setting £66million ($87million) transfer fee, Kepa now secures the title of the world’s most expensive goalkeeper.