Tag: Thibaut Courtois

  • Oblak signs Atletico contract extension to 2023

    Goalkeeper as signed a contract extension with Atletico Madrid, which will keep him at the club until 2023.

    The 26-year-old is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has kept 115 clean sheets in 203 appearances since joining the club in 2014.

    “I am very happy to have signed a contract extension and to be here,” Oblak said.

    “I’m going to defend these colours to the best of my abilities and continue working hard.”

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    Oblak joined as a replacement for Thibaut Courtois, who returned to Chelsea following his loan spell in the Spanish capital and helped the club win the Spanish Super Cup in his first season.

    The Slovenia international has since added the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup — while his penalty save in the 2016 Champions League semifinal win over Bayern Munich helped Atletico reach a second final in three years.

    “The agreement certainly is great news for the Atleti Family, as we ensure the continuity of one of the world’s finest goalkeepers,” the club wrote on their website.

  • Chelsea’s perfect start helps Arrizabalaga settle in

    Chelsea’s convincing start to the Premier League campaign has helped new goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga settle in to life at Stamford Bridge, following his world record transfer, the 23-year-old has said.

    Chelsea signed Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao for 80 million euros (£72.10 million) last month and the Spaniard has kept two clean sheets in the side’s four-game winning streak to start the season.

    “I’m getting used to my new life: a new city, new team, but it’s been positive because when things start well on the pitch, it makes everything easier.

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    Arrizabalaga, who was called up to the Spain squad for their UEFA Nations League matches against Croatia and England, said moving to London as Thibaut Courtois’ replacement had felt like the right move.

    “I’m happy to take this step, I want to enjoy it… I have felt valued. In the last few years, a lot of Spaniards have done important things here and that’s good for those of us to arrive most recently,” Arrizabalaga told Spanish paper AS.

  • Bilbao’s Kepa pays 80m euro release fee

    The 23-year-old is expected to sign for the Premier League side on Wednesday, with current goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois poised to move to Real Madrid.

    “La Liga has confirmed to us that Kepa Arrizabalaga has fulfilled the requirements for the unilateral termination of his contract with Athletic Club,” said Bilbao in a statement.

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    “(He has ended) the relationship that linked him to us since the 2004-05 season and the amount of compensation established in the contract has been deposited.”

    At 80 million euros, Arrizabalaga will become the most expensive goalkeeper in football history, ahead of Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, who moved from AS Roma for 75 million euros earlier in the transfer window.

    After being strongly linked to Real Madrid, Arrizabalaga signed a new deal with Bilbao in January which raised his release fee to 80 million.

    Chelsea Coach Maurizio Sarri praised Arrizabalaga on Tuesday night.

    “I saw (Kepa) one year ago. My first impression was that he is a very good goalkeeper, very young but very good,” said the Italian.

  • Courtois is world’s highest-paid goalkeeper

    Courtois is world’s highest-paid goalkeeper

     

    Chelsea have offered Thibaut Courtois a new contract worth more than £200,000 a week.

    The deal on offer at Stamford Bridge, which includes bonuses, will see him overtake Manchester United’s David de Gea as the world’s highest-paid goalkeeper.

    And Chelsea are growing increasingly optimistic the 25-year-old will sign the new contract despite interest from Real Madrid.

    According to The Telegraph, the Belgian’s current £100,000-a-week deal, which runs out at the end of next season, will be extended until 2023.

    The Blues have made Courtois’ future their priority and have cooled interest in Stoke City shot-stopper Jack Butland.

    Courtois has been a long-term target of Real Madrid but the Spaniards appear increasingly likely to sign Athletic Bilbao keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in January.

    Sportsmail revealed last month that the La Liga club were looking at three goalkeepers, with Kepa going head-to-head with Premier League targets De Gea and Courtois.

    But Kepa, who was left out of the Basque derby with Real Sociedad at the weekend with a foot injury, is close to agreeing a move to Madrid and President Florentino Perez would then be unlikely to invest more in the position in the summer.

    It is understood Courtois, who spent three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid, is keen on eventually returning to Spain.

    However with Real now focusing their attention elsewhere, the former Genk keeper now looks set to stay in west London.

    And he recently suggested he is prepared to do so, despite missing his two young children who live in Spain.

    He said: ‘I love my children to death. When you miss them, you are sometimes wondering — shouldn’t I play in Spain in the next few years? That’s why I want to take time to decide how many years I want to sign up. When I sign, I want to tell Chelsea that I have been here for so many years because I am happy here.

    ‘I like playing here, it’s a nice city, but of course I’m thinking about my private situation. I do not see any reason why I shouldn’t sign, but I just want to take my time with everything. I think I will have an agreement with Chelsea before the season ends.’

     

     

     

     

     

  • Courtois splits with pregnant girlfriend Dominguez

    Courtois splits with pregnant girlfriend Dominguez

     

    Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois confirmed he has split from his pregnant girlfriend after years together.

    The Chelsea and Belgium No 1 confirmed the split in a statement – and the announcement could be good at Blues fans hoping he will stay at Stamford Bridge.

    Courtois and 24-year-old Spaniard Marta Dominguez had been together for a number of years having met when he was on loan at Atletico Madrid and he has been linked with move back to Spain with Real Madrid leading the chase.

    Courtois and Marta have one child together and another on the way and she has returned to Spain to raise them there.

    In a statement the Chelsea keeper confirmed the couple parted ways in September last year.

    The statement read: ‘My girlfriend Marta and I are no longer together. Since the beginning of September, we have decided to end our relationship, on amicable terms.

    ‘We both went our own way, even though she was already expecting our second child. She moved to Madrid, I stayed in London.

    ‘We still love each other and we get along very well, but we don’t have a romantic relationship anymore.

    ‘But we don’t run away for our responsibilities. We are first and foremost parents of a beautiful princess, Adriana, and our about to be born son, Nicolas.

    ‘We’ll strive to give our children the love and attention they deserve. Marta and I will be still present in each other’s lives, as good friends and the best parents for our two kids.

    ‘Their luck is our priority. In the meantime we’re looking forward to the birth of our second child.’

    Courtois looks set to win the Premier League title for the second time in his career with Antonio Conte’s men seven points clear of second place Tottenham.

  • Courtois dismisses Real Madrid rumours

    Courtois dismisses Real Madrid rumours

     

     

    Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has dismissed claims that he could move in the summer to Real Madrid.

    Keylor Navas is having a tough time in goal at the Bernabeu currently, having been at fault for the strike that Real Betis scored at the weekend. As such, speculation is mounting that the European champions could make a change in that area, with Belgium international Courtois one of the players cited in connection with Zinedine Zidane’s men.

    The 24-year-old previously played with Atletico Madrid in La Liga, but is not thinking about a move back to Spain.

    Speaking to Onda Cero , he said: “No, I’m not planning on moving. I’m enjoying the success here and I am focused.”

    Courtois was speaking after Antonio Conte’s men defeated Manchester United in an FA Cup quarter-final 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, booking a London derby with Tottenham in the semi-finals next month.