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Martin Zubimendi is finally a Gunner! Arsenal announce £60m signing of Spanish midfielder after fending off interest from Real Madrid
Arsenal have officially completed the signing of Spanish midfield maestro Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in a deal reported to be worth £60 million, making him Mikel Arteta’s second summer acquisition.
The Gunners confirmed the long-anticipated move on Tuesday, revealing that the 26-year-old has penned a five-year contract at the Emirates. Zubimendi’s switch had been in the pipeline since the tail end of last season, with final agreements now concluded.
Arsenal had been keen on securing the midfielder’s services as early as last summer, identifying him as a long-term replacement for Jorginho and Thomas Partey, both of whom are leaving the club after entering the final year of their contracts.
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Reports suggest Mikel Arteta played a pivotal role in ensuring the deal materialized. Arteta reportedly convinced Zubimendi to hold off on a move until the 2025 window, assuring the player of his importance to Arsenal’s midfield rebuild.
The deal also follows last year’s £31.6 million acquisition of Zubimendi’s former Sociedad teammate Mikel Merino, who is believed to have influenced his decision to reunite with him in North London.
Arsenal had initially pursued both players simultaneously, but Sociedad were unwilling to sanction a double exit in one window.
Zubimendi’s arrival follows the signing of Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea for £5 million. Arsenal are also expected to finalise the £15 million move for Brentford captain Christian Norgaard, while an approach for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke is reportedly being prepared.
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Zubimendi, a product of Real Sociedad’s academy, made 236 appearances for the La Liga side, carving out a reputation as one of the most composed and intelligent deep-lying midfielders in Europe.
Speaking on his move, Zubimendi expressed excitement at joining Arsenal:
“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.
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.”
He will wear the No. 36 shirt and is expected to join up with the team for pre-season training in the coming days.
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised the signing:
“Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team. He will fit in really well and has all the attributes to be a key player for us.”
Sporting director Andrea Berta added:
“We’re very happy to welcome Martin to Arsenal. He’s a top target we’ve worked hard on, and his ability and mentality align perfectly with our ambitions.”
Zubimendi’s arrival marks another bold step in Arsenal’s mission to build a title-winning side under Arteta, and fans will be eager to see the Spaniard in action as the Premier League campaign edges closer.
Welcome to The Arsenal, Martin Zubimendi 😍
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 6, 2025