Chelsea analysis: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Thibaut Courtois - a look back at the Blues’ last seven goalkeepers
Over the last decade, Chelsea have scrambled to replace the outgoing legend that was Petr Cech.
Since the 2014/15 season, when the Czech was displaced as the Blues’ No.1, the West Londoners have spent an impressive £155million on goalkeepers, despite arguably only having one truly successful shotstopper in that time.
With that in mind, Transfer News Blitz writer Joe Matthews has looked back on the last seven keepers that have moved to Stamford Bridge.
Thibaut Courtois, 2011-2018
Thibaut Courtois joined Chelsea from Genk back in the summer of 2011 for £7.9million and was the man who eventually took Cech’s starting spot between the sticks.
The Belgian made 39 appearances in all competitions during his first season in goal for the Blues and kept a respectable 16 clean sheets.
With Courtois in goal, it looked as though Chelsea were set for the next decade, but quickly top clubs from across Europe took note, and it was in 2018 that Real Madrid came calling.
There is no doubt that the Belgian international has since established himself as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world, and has won 14 major trophies while at the Santiago Bernabéu, including two Champions Leagues.
Asmir Begovic, 2015-2017
Asmir Begovic in action for Chelsea.
Asmir Begovic had become somewhat of a Premier League icon for Stoke City after scoring from inside his own penalty box against Southampton in 2013.
One could even argue that the goal overshadowed what had been a good season for the Bosnian, and in 2015, he was swiftly snapped up by Chelsea.
In early September, Courtois suffered a leg injury that ruled him out for three months, meaning Begovic would temporarily become the Blues' No.1.
During his maiden campaign at Chelsea, Begovic made 25 appearances in all competitions and kept eight clean sheets.
Eventually demoted to Courtois’ backup once again, the Bosnian international eventually left the club in 2017 for AFC Bournemouth.
Spells at Qarabag FK, AC Milan, Queens Park Rangers and Everton, Begovic’s current club, followed.
The shotstopper’s move to Chelsea could arguably be seen as the start of the end for his career, which could have been one of endless first-team opportunities had he stuck with the Potters.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, 2018-2025
Kepa Arrizabalaga made headlines following his £71.8million move to Chelsea in 2018, a new record transfer fee for a goalkeeper at the time.
The Spaniard went on to make 163 senior appearances for the club and has been linked with a move to London rivals Arsenal this summer.
Similar to Begovic, Kepa also made some loan moves as he became more aware of the reality of his situation in West London.
Real Madrid came calling first, ironically to cover for the injured Courtois, where he ended up playing 20 times.
Last season, Kepa impressed on the South Coast with Bournemouth, making a respectable 35 appearances.
Taking the Spaniard’s price tag into consideration, Chelsea would have likely expected more of a return, but Kepa ultimately turned out to be unreliable and mistake-prone.
Looking back, the 30-year-old infamously made the headlines in the 2019 Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, when he refused to come off the pitch for penalty specialist Willy Caballero.
Chelsea went on to lose the shootout, and the Spaniard was fined a week's wages.
Not such a fitting end for a record-breaking transfer.
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Edouard Mendy, 2020-2023
Edouard Mendy joined Chelsea in the summer of 2020 from Stade Rennais for a fee of £22million.
The Senelagese shotstopper was the answer to the problems posed by Kepa and was part of a huge overhaul by the Blues.
Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz were all bought for £200million alongside the goalkeeper.
Mendy went on to play a pivotal role in the West Londoners' 2021 Champions League win - a year in which he also won the Club World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.
Nevertheless, he eventually made a move away in 2023 to Al-Ahli for £16million after 105 games for Chelsea.
The current situation
Robert Sanchez was Chelsea’s first-choice last season.
In the summer of Mendy’s departure, Chelsea made two goalkeeper signings - Djordje Petrovic from New England for £14million and Robert Sanchez from Brighton & Hove Albion for £25million.
In the 2023/24 season, the two battled to be the No.1, and it seemed as though ultimately Petrovic came out victorious, having made 31 appearances over Sanchez’s 21.
However, last season the Serbian went out on loan to Strasbourg, leaving Sanchez as Enzo Maresca’s first-choice shotstopper, playing 34 times in all competitions.
But throughout the season, it seemed as though Maresca was yet to be convinced, and so he eventually made the switch to play the 22-year-old Filip Jorgensen.
With the Blues’ recent failed attempts to sign Mike Maignan from AC Milan, it is clear that the Chelsea boss is unhappy with his current goalkeeping options.
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