Martin Zubimendi signs for Arsenal and here is why

Telegraph

2 days ago

At half-time of last year's European Championship final against England, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente had a simple message for his players. 'Let's be ourselves,' he told his team, in a speech filmed by Amazon's documentary-makers. 'We have to take it easy. Keep calm. Just do your thing.'
Of perhaps all the Spanish players, Martin Zubimendi had the most reason to panic. He had watched most of the tournament from the bench, playing a total of just 95 minutes before the final, and he was now being thrown into the heart of midfield following an injury to Rodri. It was the biggest moment of his career.
But, as it turned out, it was arguably Zubimendi who best followed De la Fuente's instructions. The Basque native kept calm, just as his coach demanded, and did his thing. What followed was a midfield masterclass, full of probing passes and well-timed tackles, as he helped Spain to a 2-1 victory over Gareth Southgate's side in Berlin.
The performance provided further proof that Zubimendi is a midfielder capable of operating at the highest level, under the most intense pressure. Liverpool had seen enough, and soon made their move. A few weeks after that final in Germany, it seemed certain that he would be swapping Real Sociedad for Anfield in a deal worth around £50 million.
But just as the transfer was materialising, Zubimendi backed away – much to Liverpool's disappointment. 'I weighed the pros and cons and concluded that the best option was to stay,' he later said. 'There were many reasons for my decision, but I was selfish and thought about what was best for me.'
It is a question that many have asked over the past year: what made Zubimendi reject Liverpool? Telegraph Sport can now reveal the reason why. Around the time he was strongly considering the offer from Liverpool, Zubimendi was also presented with an alternative opportunity: Arsenal.
According to sources in Spain, Arsenal made it clear to Sociedad last summer that they wanted to sign two of their midfielders. The north Londoners were keen for Mikel Merino to join immediately and then for Zubimendi to come a year later, in the summer of 2025.
It made for an extraordinary situation. This was effectively a hugely ambitious package deal for two high-class Spain internationals, at the cost of more than £80 million (Merino cost around £30 million, while Zubimendi has cost more than £50 million).
The move was led by Edu Gaspar and Jason Ayto, Arsenal's then-sporting director and assistant sporting director, and the pursuit of Zubimendi has ultimately proved to be a remarkable triumph of relationship-building and long-term planning. Here is an elite-level midfielder, snatched away from a Premier League rival, and a deal that was almost a year in the making.
Crucially from a financial perspective, the long-term nature of the pursuit has allowed Arsenal to structure the deal more favourably, rather than triggering the 26-year-old's release clause with a single payment.
Why were Sociedad so willing to engage in such an unusual negotiation? In large part, because they wanted to avoid losing both Merino and Zubimendi in the same summer. The departure of both players would have forced them into a near-complete rebuild of their midfield.
For Zubimendi, too, it made sense to stay in San Sebastián for one more season, rather than move to Liverpool straight after the European Championship. It also surely contributed to his thinking last summer that Arne Slot had only just taken over from Jürgen Klopp. At the time, it was fair to wonder how awkward the transition from Klopp to Slot might be.
From Arsenal's side, there was no need to recruit a new defensive midfielder last year. With Jorginho, Thomas Partey and Declan Rice in Mikel Arteta's squad, they had the required quality and depth in that position. But they knew that Jorginho and Partey's deals both expired in 2025, and that change would soon be required in this crucial area of the team.
Arsenal's executives might one day claim the transfer was never in doubt after they convinced Zubimendi to wait a year for them, but it was not truly a done deal until March. Indeed, there were moments during the season when it seemed like Arsenal's elaborate plan might just come under threat.
The serious knee injury to Manchester City's Rodri, for example, raised expectations in some quarters that Pep Guardiola might target Zubimendi in January. There was also a constant sense that Xabi Alonso, Zubimendi's idol and former coach with the Sociedad B team, might be appointed at Real Madrid and target the Spain international. It would have been hard for Sociedad and Zubimendi to say no to such a proposal.
Arsenal had moved so decisively and so early, though, that they were able to remain in control of the situation. First with Edu leading the way, before his departure from Arsenal in November, and then with Ayto, who subsequently helmed Arsenal's recruitment efforts. The relationship between Arsenal, Sociedad and the player remained strong.
The transfer was finally announced on Sunday but it was effectively completed months ago, prior to the arrival of new sporting director Andrea Berta. When Real attempted to make a move in June, there were therefore no concerns or doubts in north London. The deal was done.
The prospect of working with Arteta was another significant factor in Zubimendi's decision. Not only are the two men from the same city, but they also both played for the same amateur club, Antiguoko, as kids. Club sources say the two men formed an instant connection.
Zubimendi's game is based on intelligent movement and thinking one step ahead. It is perhaps no surprise, then, that he is also an impressive chess player. As a boy, he once won the under-12 chess championship in the Spanish province of Gipuzkoa.
Martin Zubimendi campeón de Gipuzkoa alevín de ajedrez (2011) #realsociedad pic.twitter.com/gsS8TzWMjM
— RSF_ClassicPics (@RSF_ClassicPics) June 8, 2021
His challenge now is to adapt to a new club, for the first time in his professional life, and a new league. To routinely demonstrate the same technical ability and mental clarity he showed for Spain in their victory over England. And to justify not only the investment by Arsenal, but also the extraordinary, year-long recruitment operation that ultimately brought him to England.