Thibaut Courtois makes the move from Chelsea to Real Madrid
Belgian goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, is set to cut his ties with Chelsea and move to Real Madrid this summer. The Golden Glove winner of the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be joining Los Blancos on a six-year deal, which will see him fight for a place in the starting line-up with Keylor Navas. Here are further details about this deal.
Details of the deal between the two clubs
Real will be paying a sum of €35 million to Chelsea for Courtois. The same deal will also see the Croatian mid-fielder, Mateo Kovacic, moving to London from the Spanish capital on a year-long loan. Courtois was interested in the move for a long time and he forced the club to close the deal by declining to appear for training with Chelsea.
His career at Chelsea
Courtois joined Chelsea from Genk in 2011. He was immediately sent on loan to Atletico Madrid, where he stayed till 2014, winning La Liga in his last season with the Rojiblancos. He returned to Chelsea for the 2014-15 season, signing a 5-year contract with the Blues. Courtois, in the 2014-15 season, helped Chelsea win the Premier League and the League Cup.
Real has welcomed Courtois with a post on Twitter
How did Keylor Navas react to the move?
Keylor Navas has said that this move does not bother him in any way. He said in an interview, "Of course, and I say this with force, I have the same desire to leave that I have to die". Navas joined Real Madrid in 2014 and found unprecedented success with them, winning the Club World Cup, La Liga, 3 Champions League and other honors.
Who will take up Thibaut's spot in the squad?
Chelsea have already found a replacement for Thibaut Courtois in Athletic Bilbao's goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. They have signed the 23-year old for a club-record €80 million, which also makes him the costliest goal-keeper of all time. Interestingly, only a few days back, Brazil's Alisson had become the costliest goal-keeper ever when he signed for Liverpool for a record fee of €75 million.
