Chelsea overspent by more than £40m on world record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga

Chelsea overpaid by more than £40m when they completed the world record goalkeeper signing of Spain international Kepa Arrizabalaga, according to the CIES Football Observatory.

The Premier League side, who have won their opening four fixtures in the English top-flight so far this term, splashed out a whopping £71.6m for the Athletic Bilbao shot stopper back in August, following Thibaut Courtois’ move to Real Madrid during the summer transfer window.

The 23-year-old, who has one senior international cap for his country, has kept two clean sheets in four league games for The Blues so far this season.

But, according to the CIES Football Observatory, via Football Italia, the Premier League club pulled off the ‘worst buy’ of the transfer window, coughing up around €80m for Arrizabalaga, when his transfer value was believed to be closer to just €35.3m.

Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga.

That results in Chelsea reportedly overspending by just under €45m (approximately £40m) on the Spanish ‘keeper.

In fact, The Blues’ €40m sale of Belgium international Courtois to Madrid was rated as the ‘best buy of the season’, as his transfer value is actually worth around €62.6m.

Arrizabalaga put pen to paper on a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge last month.

Written by Dan Church Follow @DJChurch94