Kepa becomes most expensive goalkeeper ever with €80M Chelsea move

Alisson's reign as the costliest shot-stopper in football history was short-lived.

Chelsea completed the signing of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on Wednesday, activating the €80-million buyout clause in his Athletic Bilbao contract before coming to terms on a seven-year deal with the Spaniard.

"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’s an accumulation of things, and I am very glad Chelsea has decided to trust me and to take me in as well," the goalkeeper said after completing his move.

Kepa, 23, arrives at Stamford Bridge as the immediate replacement for Belgian No. 1 Thibaut Courtois, who joined Real Madrid earlier in the day.

Related: Real Madrid finally end search for new 'keeper with Courtois signing

His signing signals the second time in three weeks that a new world-record fee for a goalkeeper has been established. Liverpool paid €75 million to pry the aforementioned Alisson away from Roma in July.

Kepa's skill set should prove a perfect fit for Maurizio Sarri's free-flowing, dynamic pressing system. The new Chelsea bench boss needs a goalkeeper who's comfortable with the ball at his feet, and also able to rush off his line and sweep up long balls over the top of the defense.

He has exactly that in the form of the Bilbao youth product.

"I saw [Kepa] one year ago, my first impression was that he is a very good goalkeeper, very young but very good," Sarri said during a press conference on Tuesday, after a friendly win over Lyon on penalties.

Chelsea will open their Premier League campaign on Saturday against Huddersfield.