Alex MacQuoid
Arsenal have officially confirmed the signing of Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, with the deal reportedly costing the North London club £55 million. Rather than triggering the release clause in a single payment, the Gunners opted to exceed it slightly in order to structure the fee in instalments — a strategic move amid financial fair play concerns.
The 26-year-old’s arrival comes at a crucial time, following the departures of Thomas Partey and Jorginho, both of whom left after their contracts expired. Zubimendi’s addition is expected to reinforce Mikel Arteta’s midfield core as Arsenal look to close the gap on reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.
In his first official statement as an Arsenal player, Zubimendi said: “This is a huge moment in my career. It’s the move I was looking for and one I wanted to make. As soon as you set foot here, you realise how big this club and this team are.”
He added: “I set my sights on Arsenal because their style of play is a good fit for me. They have shown their potential recently and the best is yet to come.”
Known for his positional discipline and intelligence on the ball, Zubimendi made 236 appearances for Real Sociedad, scoring 10 goals and notching 9 assists. He played a pivotal role in the club’s 2020 Copa del Rey victory, ending a 34-year trophy drought — a landmark achievement in his career.
On the international stage, the midfielder has continued to impress, featuring in Spain’s victorious 2023 UEFA Nations League campaign and the recent UEFA Euro 2024 triumph.
Zubimendi is expected to link up with the squad ahead of Arsenal’s pre-season opener against AC Milan on July 23, where fans will likely get their first glimpse of how he fits into Arteta’s evolving system.
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