Enzo Maresca is already blessed with options between the Chelsea sticks. Robert Sanchez has started the season as his first choice, with new signing Filip Jorgensen forced to play back-up.

Mike Penders has agreed to join up with the club next summer, while Djordje Petrovic and Gabriel Slonina have departed on loan. That left Kepa with no choice but to seek a move away, and Chelsea were in no position to recoup anything like the world-record PS72million fee they splashed on the Spaniard in 2018.

That clause will reportedly become active next summer if a number of attainable conditions are met during his time at Bournemouth. Even if Kepa convinces the Cherries to pursue a permanent move, Chelsea will have to shoulder a whopping PS67m loss.

The stopper became the most expensive goalkeeper in history after only two seasons in Athletic Bilbao's first team. Two campaigns in Chelsea's starting XI followed, but after slipping down the pecking order in 2020/21, he never re-established himself on a consistent basis.

"I'm very proud to be at Real Madrid," he said. "I'll never be short of hard work, commitment and effort with this jersey both in training and in matches. Will I stay after the loan? Hopefully. We'll see. Hopefully with my performance I can make that happen."

The pair were at Athletic Bilbao together during Iraola's playing days and Kepa looks set to stamp his authority on the starting line-up, with the out-of-favour Mark Travers his only competition.