London: Arsenal have officially signed Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad on a long-term deal, marking their second signing of the season after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s arrival from Chelsea. Zubimendi joins as a key addition to Mikel Arteta’s midfield, following the departures of Thomas Partey and Jorginho.
The 26-year-old moves to the Premier League after making 236 senior appearances for Real Sociedad, the club he joined as a youth. According to The Athletic, Arsenal agreed to pay €65 million—slightly above Zubimendi’s release clause—with the fee structured in instalments. The timing of the deal, finalised after July 1, was reportedly at the request of Sociedad for accounting purposes.
“This is a huge moment in my career. It’s the move I was looking for and one I wanted to make,” said Zubimendi in his first statement as an Arsenal player. “As soon as you set foot here, you realise how big this club and this team are. 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.”
A product of Sociedad’s academy, Zubimendi helped the club win the delayed 2019–20 Copa del Rey in April 2021, defeating local rivals Athletic Club. He played a crucial role in the 2022–23 season, helping Sociedad finish fourth in La Liga—their highest finish in a decade—which secured a Champions League berth.
Internationally, Zubimendi has represented Spain at various levels. He started all five matches in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where Spain earned a silver medal. Since then, he has earned 19 senior caps, playing a part in Spain’s 2023 UEFA Nations League win and coming off the bench to help defeat England 2–1 in the Euro 2024 final.
“Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. “He will fit in really well and he has all the attributes to be a key player for us. The standard he has consistently performed at over the last few seasons for both club and country is exactly why we are so excited to have him with us. We all welcome Martin and his family to the club.”
Zubimendi is expected to play a central role in Arteta’s midfield setup as Arsenal prepare to challenge for the Premier League and return to the UEFA Champions League.
With IANS inputs