Chelsea Set to Face Bournemouth in Premier League Clash

Chelsea will travel to the south coast to face Bournemouth in an upcoming Premier League match on Saturday evening, following the conclusion of the international break. The team aims to secure a victory after a recent 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge, where they managed to score a lone goal.

As Chelsea prepares for the match against Bournemouth, they will do so with an eye on squad rules, as one player will be unable to participate. Kepa Arrizabalaga, who joined Bournemouth on loan during the summer transfer window after extending his contract with Chelsea for one year, is barred from playing against his parent club due to Premier League regulations.

Bournemouth’s manager, Andoni Iraola, acknowledged the situation stating, “We knew it before he came. They are the rules.” With Kepa unavailable, Mark Travers, who has performed admirably when given opportunities, will start in goal for Bournemouth.

Kepa’s contract with Chelsea was initially set to expire at the end of this season, but has now been extended until the summer of 2026. This extension provides Chelsea with additional time to determine a permanent future for the Spanish international, whom they have attempted to transfer over the past two years.

Chelsea signed Kepa in 2018 from Athletic Bilbao for £72 million, making him the most expensive goalkeeper at the time. Last season, he was on loan, as his position was replaced by other goalkeepers at Chelsea. Despite his efforts, Kepa was not anticipated to fit into the plans of Chelsea’s coach Enzo Maresca for the current season. While under the management of Carlo Ancelotti, Kepa made a total of 20 appearances, achieving nine clean sheets, though he eventually lost his starting spot to Andriy Lunin.