Bournemouth Just Axed 14 Players (And Yes, Kepa's Gone Too)

By Lewis Barnett 9 June, 2025 5 mins read 45 Views

Well, that escalated quickly.

Bournemouth just dropped the hammer on FOURTEEN players in their end-of-season clear-out. I'm sitting here scrolling through this list thinking... damn, that's brutal even by football standards. The Cherries had their best Premier League season ever - finished ninth, which honestly nobody saw coming back in August - and now they're basically telling half their squad "thanks but no thanks."

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The Kepa Situation (Spoiler: He's Arsenal-Bound)

Let's talk about the elephant in the room first. Kepa Arrizabalaga is officially back at Chelsea after what can only be described as a redemption arc on the South Coast. The guy kept 8 clean sheets and helped Bournemouth achieve their best defensive record in the top flight - just 46 goals conceded. Not bad for a keeper who was basically persona non grata at Stamford Bridge.

But here's the kicker - he won't be there long. Arsenal are reportedly ready to trigger his £5million release clause, which honestly feels like highway robbery in today's market. My mate who supports Chelsea texted me yesterday: "We're basically giving away a decent keeper for peanuts." Hard to argue with that logic.

Kepa's got just 12 months left on his Chelsea deal, made 35 appearances for Bournemouth across all competitions, and now he's probably heading to North London. Football's weird sometimes.

Andoni Iraola's Masterclass

Credit where it's due - Andoni Iraola pulled off something special last season. Taking Bournemouth from relegation battlers to European hopefuls? That doesn't happen by accident. The defensive foundation he built was rock solid, and much of that success came from smart loan signings like Kepa.

Now he's got to rebuild parts of his squad while keeping the core intact. No pressure, right?

The Casualty List is Long

From the development team, Lewis Brown, Coby Small, Kian Tydeman and Toure Williams are all out. Then there's nine second-year scholars getting the boot: Ryan Carroll, Joshua Hamilton-Olise, Kashanga Kasukumya, Teodor Minchev, Sonny Parkes, Joshua Salmon, William Seeley, Tommy Whitehead and Jay Williams.

Reading those names, you can't help but think about the human side of this business. These are kids who've probably dreamed of making it at Bournemouth since they were teenagers. Now they're scrambling to find new clubs before the season starts.

Football can be ruthless like that.

The Vultures Are Circling

Here's where things get interesting (and expensive) for Bournemouth. Success breeds attention, and now everyone wants a piece of their breakout stars. Milos Kerkez is apparently Liverpool-bound - which makes sense given how impressive he was bombing up and down that left flank all season.

Then there's Antoine Semenyo. £70million valuation. Manchester United sniffing around. That's the kind of money that could transform a club like Bournemouth, but it also means losing one of your best players.

The cycle continues - smaller clubs develop talent, bigger clubs come calling with obscene money, and suddenly you're back to square one. Except now you've got £70million burning a hole in your pocket and a manager who needs to find the next Antoine Semenyo.

Good luck with that, Andoni.

Frequently Asked Questions

What role does the Video Assistant Referee play in the Premier League?

The Premier League uses the Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, system to assist referees on the field in making correct decisions. This includes goals, penalties, incidents involving direct red cards, and misidentification. The VAR analyses the footage in question, advises and guides the referee. Before making a decision, the referee has the option of viewing a playback on the pitchside screen. The system's goal is to minimize any human errors that may affect the result of a game.

What is Premier League?

The Premier League is England's top football league and one of its most popular and competitive leagues. It is contested between 20 teams. The English Football League (EFL) operates a system for promotion and relegation. Each team competes annually. They play 38 matches (home or away) and the season runs typically from August through May. The Premier League has a global following and is known for high-quality football.

Do Premier League clubs have any financial regulations?

Financial Fair Play Rules (FFP rules) are part of the Premier League's financial regulations. They were designed to ensure that clubs do not spend beyond their means while promoting financial stability. These rules require that clubs limit their losses and make sure they do not outspend their revenues from football activities. These regulations were put in place to encourage sensible spending and maintain competitive balance among the league.

How is the Premier League winner determined?

The Premier League champion is the one who has the most points in the 38 game season. A team receives three points if they win, one for a draw and zero for losing. If two teams have the same amount of points at the end of the season, the winner will be determined by their goal difference. If the teams remain level, they may use a match at a neutral stadium to decide the championship. This scenario has never been seen in Premier League.

What is the meaning of the "Big Six" in Premier League?

The Big Six refers specifically to a group of Premier League clubs who have had the most success and influence in recent years. Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool are usually on the list. Also included is Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. These teams are known as having a strong fan base with a lot of money, for their high-level performances, and for qualifying frequently for European tournaments like the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Cup.

Statistics

Chelsea established the Premier League’s greatest goal difference of +71 in the 2009–2010 season, showcasing their offensive prowess and defensive strength.
Ryan Giggs holds the distinction of scoring in 21 consecutive Premier League seasons, marking consistency seldom seen in such a demanding league.
The record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League season by a player is 32, achieved by Mohamed Salah during the 2017-2018 campaign.
Petr Čech set a remarkable defensive record during the 2004-2005 season with 24 clean sheets, the most by a goalkeeper in a single Premier League season.
Durability is exemplified by Gareth Barry who made an impressive 653 Premier League appearances, the highest number to date.

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