Transfer news: Arsenal Sign Martin Zubimendi From Real Sociedad
Arsenal signed midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad for £51 million. Zubimendi will wear the number 36 shirt.
Arsenal announced on Sunday that they have signed midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, having reportedly activated his £51 million ($70 million) release clause.
Euro 2024 winner Zubimendi, who had been previously targeted by Liverpool and linked with Real Madrid, described the move as a 'huge moment" in his career.
Martin 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.
'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."
Sporting Director, Andrea Berta, added: 'We are so happy to bring Martin to Arsenal and have a lot of pride in finalising this transfer. Martin was a key target for us and we all know that he is a perfect fit for our squad with the high quality he has.
'We welcome Martin and his family to the club. We look forward to him settling in with his teammates and are very excited to see him playing in an Arsenal shirt."
Mikel Arteta added: '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 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."
Who Is Martin Zubimendi?
Martin Zubimendi, aged 26, joins from Real Sociedad, where he made 236 appearances across all competitions at the first-team level after graduating from the club's academy. In April 2021, he played a pivotal role in helping Sociedad win the delayed 2019/20 Copa del Rey against intercity rivals Athletic Club, alongside current Gunner Mikel Merino.
Martin was a key player in the 2022/23 season, contributing significantly as Real Sociedad achieved their highest league finish in recent history, ending the season in fourth place and qualifying for the Champions League for only the third time, and the first in 10 years.
As a Spanish international, Martin started all five games in the 2020 Olympic Games, where Spain claimed silver in Tokyo. He has since made 19 senior appearances for La Roja, winning the 2023 UEFA Nations League and helping his country defeat England 2-1 to win Euro 2024, coming on as a half-time substitute.
Martin will wear the number 36 shirt and will join his new teammates at the Sobha Realty Training Centre when the team reports for pre-season.
First Published:
July 06, 2025, 17:08 IST
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