Chelsea have paid a staggering £72m release clause for Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga ahead of his world-record move to the Premiership club.
According to reports, the Blues agreed to make the Athletic Bilbao No 1 the most expensive goalkeeper in history on Tuesday as they look to replace Real Madrid -bound Thibaut Courtois.
Lawyers representing Kepa and Chelsea deposited the record fee at 9.22am on Wednesday morning.
Sports Mail reports that Lawyers Enric Ripoll Gonzalez and Paolo
Torchetti from De Ruiz-Huerta and Crespo lawyers in Valencia,
represented the Premier League side, while the payment was made through the player’s lawyers and Margarita Garay, general director of Bahia Internacional. She was accompanied by lawyers Rodrigo Garcia and Alvaro Reig de Laffer.
Bilbao released a statement on their official website, confirming that a release clause for Kepa has been paid.
“The Professional Football League has certified to our entity that the player Kepa Arrizabalaga has met the requirements for the valid unilateral termination of the work contract that linked him to Athletic Club.
“The aforementioned certification indicates that the player has expressed his desire to terminate and unilaterally resolve the relationship that joined him since the 2004/05 season and that the amount of the compensation established in the contract has been deposited.
“Athletic thanks the player for his contribution during the time he has remained in our Club.
“In this sense, Athletic Club will continue to work so that being part of its first team continues to be the maximum personal and professional aspiration of each and every one of the players, representatives of a unique sporting philosophy and project.
The 23-year-old is expected to undergo a medical anytime soon
and put pen to paper on a long-term deal, which will see him become the most expensive goalkeeper in the world.
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