Soccer Football - Nations League - Final - Portugal v Spain - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - June 8, 2025 Spain's Martin Zubimendi celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
Arsenal have now officially announced the signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi from La Liga side Real Sociedad. The Spain international was tipped to join the Gunners for the better part of a year, with Arsenal agreeing to trigger his €60 million release clause.
Talks between Arsenal and the player’s representative reportedly began last summer with an understanding that the clause would be paid at a later time. That time has now come and Zubimendi has put pen to paper on long term contract.
Arsenal have had to wait for their man though, with the player also the subject of interest from Liverpool last summer and Real Madrid this summer. Zubimendi snubbed a move to Liverpool last summer and opted to stay at Sociedad for the 2024/25 season, while this summer saw Madrid enquire about the player but the deal to join Arsenal was already complete.
Arsenal has confirmed that Zubimendi will wear the number 36 shirt. The player was initially expected to provide backup for Thomas Partey following the departure of Jorginho. But since Partey has now also departed, Zubimendi is expected to start in the defensive midfield role.
Zubimendi is a Gunner
Zubimendi made 236 appearances in all competitions for Sociedad after breaking through the youth academy. He helped secure the 2019/20 Cope del Ray title alongside Mikel Merino who he will reunited with at Arsenal.
He was a key cog in the 2022/23 side that secured Sociedad’s highest league finish in recent history, ending in 4th place and securing Champions League football for only the third time. Sociedad finished 11th last season and will not play European football this upcoming season.
The 26 year old has become a key figure for Spain as well, starting all five games in the 2020 Olympics as they claimed silver in Tokyo. He’s gone on to make 19 senior appearances for Spain, and helped his country win the 2023 UEFA Nations League as well and the 2024 Euro.
He will be in the Arsenal squad that travels to Singapore and Hong Kong later in July for pre-season fixtures against AC Milan, Newcastle, and Tottenham.
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