Chelsea Spent $91 Million On A Backup Goalkeeper—It’s Unknowingly Succeeded

Chelsea is the World and European champion, and its reliable goalkeeper has played a part in the success. Not the one it expected, however.

Not that it cares a great deal either. When the London club forked out €80 million ($93 million) to make Spanish stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga the most expensive goalkeeper ever, it expected big things. He would form the base of their trophy victories, be the wiry, eve-headed goalkeeper nurtured by La Liga side Athletic Club.

Chelsea has gone on to win honors and is the first English side to collect a trophy this season after defeating Brazilian side Palmeiras in the Club World Cup final. Except, in the United Arab Emirates and the Premier League this campaign, someone else has been making most of the saves: Edouard Mendy.

Mendy’s transfer fee was less than a third of Kepa’s, coming in at around €24 million ($27 million) when he departed French Ligue 1 side Rennes. Kepa’s shortcomings were apparent, and the Senegalese star has duly displaced him as a capable number one. Hedging your bets on a prodigious talent in Kepa, only to be disappointed, seemed like bad business.

Curiously, though, it’s proven successful. In isolation, Chelsea paid over the odds for Kepa when you consider his questionable form at times. Then again, Mendy—the unlikely number one—still has a top-class goalkeeper to compete with, which has only made him better.

Chelsea has one of the best goalkeeping situations in European soccer. In such a reality, money becomes a secondary consideration. Manchester City, and Liverpool depending on who you ask, will be fighting it out for the Premier League title. Still, Chelsea has a League Cup final to prepare for, not to mention the Champions League and FA Cup rounds, as it aims to build on its most recent silverware. In the end, that’s what matters.

Kepa has drawn millions of dollars in transfer fees, yet he remains an afterthought in the Spanish national setup. Manager Luis Enrique stays true to David Gea and Unai Simón, who were on guard during the last World Cup and European Championship, respectively. Inconsistency in a Chelsea shirt has been problematic, but solid performances while Edouard Mendy won the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal have raised his profile once more. It also evidences his mental strength.

Some underwhelming Kepa performances were enough to leave some unconvinced—such is the often impatient nature of modern soccer fandom and the fee paid. It’s a squad game, though, and the 27-year-old has done his bit. Albeit in another position, Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish, who cost a U.K.-player record €120 million ($236 million), doesn’t have the best statistics this campaign, scoring two and creating two goals. Has he raised the Premier League champion’s squad standard? Most likely. The same goes for Kepa.

Unless he seeks another challenge, Chelsea should think twice about letting the Spaniard go, too. His present contract runs until 2025, and his age means he still has many prosperous years ahead, particularly as a goalkeeper. During that time, he can contribute to solidity in the goalkeeping position, whether he plays or not.

That would be useful for Chelsea and bring a healthy investment return. Whether he complies will likely depend on how often he plays.