Kepa set for emotional Athletic Club return after Basque Country call-up

Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is set for an emotional return to San Mames after being named in the Basque Country squad for their international friendly against Venezuela on November 14.

According to GOAL⁠, the 32-year-old is among the 22 players selected by coach Jagoba Arrasate for the fixture in Bilbao. Kepa, currently David Raya’s understudy at Arsenal, previously represented Athletic Club before joining Chelsea in 2018 for a world-record €80 million goalkeeper transfer.

He is one of three foreign-based players selected, alongside Udinese forward Unai Gomez and Bolton Wanderers attacker Gaizka Larrazabal. The friendly also marks the Basque team’s return to action since beating Palestine 3-0 in November 2025.

It commemorates the 90th anniversary of the first autonomous Basque Government, established in 1936. Basque Country will also seek to maintain their perfect record against Venezuela, having won all three previous meetings, most recently a 4-2 victory in October 2018.