Arsenal sign Spain midfielder Zubimendi from Real Sociedad
Arsenal have signed defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad on a long-term contract, the Premier League club said on Sunday as the club reinforced a key position weakened by departures last month.
Financial details were not disclosed but British media reports said the 26-year-old had a 60 million euros ($70.67 million) release clause at Sociedad where he had a contract until 2027.
Zubimendi is Arsenal's second recruit in the close-season after goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen a squad that can get over the line in the title race after finishing runners-up in the last three Premier League seasons.
"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," Zubimendi said in a statement.
"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."
Zubimendi's arrival is a welcome reinforcement for Arsenal in midfield after Jorginho and Thomas Partey left at the end of their contracts last month.
Renowned for his mobility, his deep-lying playmaking skills as well as his defensive nous, Zubimendi will give Arsenal's midfield a measure of steel while also controlling the tempo in the role of a number six.
His arrival would potentially allow Declan Rice, Arsenal's player of the season, to play in an advanced role alongside skipper Martin Odegaard.
With Spain, Zubimendi won the European Championship in 2024, coming on for the injured Rodri in the final to help secure the trophy, while he also scored in the Nations League final earlier this month when they lost to Portugal on penalties.
Getting Zubimendi on board early would also give Arteta time to work with him in pre-season ahead of a tough opening spell in the Premier League next season.
Arsenal play Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United in their first six games of the campaign. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
32 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Lando Norris wins home British Grand Prix
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates winning the Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 6, 2025. SILVERSTONE – Lando Norris won a treacherous rain-hit British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 6 from his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg took third for the veteran German's first ever podium in 239 races. Briton Norris returned to a rapturous reception from his home fans as he won his home race for the first time and moved to within eight points of leader Piastri in the drivers' standings. 'It's beautiful, everything I ever dreamed of, this is everything I wanted to achieve, aside from winning the championship, this is as good as it gets,' beamed Norris. He added: 'In terms of being a stressful race, this is as stressful as you can get. It was a good race for Oscar as well. I've got to give credit to Oscar, he was fast the whole way. 'So a round of applause Oscar, because he put up a good fight.' Piastri, who finished less than seven seconds behind Norris, threw away the win after the Australian was hit with a 10-second penalty for a safety car infringement. As last week's heatwave gave way to a more typical British summer's day – spells of blue sky mixed with torrential showers – drivers had to keep their wits about them with puddles forming on the track. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore First BTO project in Sembawang North to be offered in July HDB launch World Tariffs will kick in on Aug 1 barring trade deals: US Treasury Secretary Singapore Woman on SMRT's 190 bus injured after bottle thrown at vehicle leaves hole in window Business Great Eastern says Takeover Code not breached when it shared IFA valuation with OCBC Asia 'Don't be seen in India again': Indian nationals pushed into Bangladesh at gunpoint Asia Thousands evacuated as Typhoon Danas lashes Taiwan Asia Two women fatally stabbed at bar in Japan by man Life Star Awards 2025: Christopher Lee wins big, including Special Achievement Award and Best Actor And Norris emerged from the chaos all smiles as he added to his wins already this season in Austria, Monaco and Australia. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton came in fourth ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Piastri fell foul of the stewards when braking heavily before the safety car peeled off, a decision that left Piastri feeling robbed. 'I'm not going to say much, I don't want to get myself in trouble,' he said in the post-race interview. 'Apparently, you can't brake behind the safety car anymore,' he added. McLaren chief executive Zak Brown admitted Piastri's penalty was a right call, He told Sky Sports: 'The safety car seemed like it was called in a bit late. The leader controls... I think Max accelerated, Oscar braked, which made it look worse than it was. The telemetry didn't look like it looked on TV. But it is what it is. 'I think any time you get into these penalties, there's an element of subjectivity. I think when they're pounding on the brakes, they're 130-140 PSI, so trying to get temperature in the tyres, it's wet, late call – a close one.' For Hulkenberg, 37, this was a day to remember as he climbed the podium for the first time since joining the F1 grid way back in 2010. 'Podium - P3 baby!' said his ecstatic race engineer on the team radio after he crossed the line. 'I don't think I can comprehend what we've just done,' replied the German. He later added: 'It feels good. It's been a long time coming, hasn't it ?But I always knew we have it in us, I have it in me, somewhere. 'What a race. Coming from virtually last, doing it all over again from last weekend. It's pretty surreal, to be honest. I'm not sure how it all happened, but obviously crazy, mixed conditions. 'It was a survival fight for a lot of the race. I think we just were really on it with the right calls, the right tyres in the right moment, made no mistakes – quite incredible.' The German veteran made up 16 places to shed an unwanted record of the most races without a podium in F1 history – July 6 being his first in 239 starts. Pierre Gasly's Alpine took sixth, with Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Alex Albon (Williams), Fernando Alonso in the other Aston and George Russell (Mercedes) rounding out the top 10. AFP, REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Milestone hunter Djokovic set for De Minaur test
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Jul 5, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Novak Djokovic (SRB) stands on the court after a point against Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB)(not pictured) on day six of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images/File Photo Novak Djokovic's quest for an elusive 25th Grand Slam faces a major hurdle as the 38-year-old Serbian runs into in-form Alex de Minaur in the last 16, while Iga Swiatek faces Clara Tauson who stunned former champion Elena Rybakina in the third round. TOP MEN'S MATCH: ALEX DE MINAUR V NOVAK DJOKOVIC Djokovic joined Roger Federer and Martina Navratilova in an elite list of players who have won 100 matches at Wimbledon when he eased past Serbian compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3 6-0 6-4 in the previous round. While he can also equal Federer's mark of eight titles at the All England Club, the milestone that is driving Djokovic is a 25th major to take him past Margaret Court. It is a record that has eluded him since he won the 2023 U.S. Open and he will look to build momentum and achieve the feat at Wimbledon, which he says is his favourite tournament. But Djokovic faces an opponent who is coming into Monday's match with unfinished business as Australian De Minaur, who had to pull out of their Wimbledon quarter-final last year with a hip injury, is relishing the chance to finally meet the Serbian on grass. 'It's funny how life works ... here we are a year later and I get my opportunity and chance again," De Minaur, 26, told Australia's Stan Sport after Saturday's win. "He's going to be very difficult to beat ... I'm going to have to go after it." De Minaur, who has won only one of his three meetings with Djokovic, said he was up for the task ahead. "You want to be beating the best players in the world ... I see it as the ultimate challenge in this sport, and I'm ready," he added. TOP WOMEN'S MATCH: IGA SWIATEK V CLARA TAUSON Five-times Grand Slam winner Swiatek has yet to replicate her stellar claycourt dominance on grass, but the former world number one said she had found a level of comfort at this year's Wimbledon that she had not felt before. The 24-year-old barely missed a beat as she brushed aside Danielle Collins 6-2 6-3 in the third round, a rarity for the Pole who has never won a WTA title on grass. "I was in the zone," Swiatek said after Saturday's victory. "I had practices where the ball was listening to me. Today was a good day and it is a new experience feeling good on this surface." However, Swiatek's Wimbledon campaigns have often been derailed by rising contenders. In 2023, she lost in the quarter-finals to wildcard Elina Svitolina. Last year, she was upset by unseeded Yulia Putintseva in the third round. Tauson, who defeated last year's semi-finalist Elena Rybakina in the third round, may fancy her chances of becoming the latest opponent to derail Swiatek's Wimbledon dream as the Danish 22-year-old enjoys her best year on the circuit yet. "Before the grass season started, I'd never won a match on grass," Tauson said after beating Rybakina. "But I played some of my best tennis." RISING ANDREEVA FACES HUNGRY NAVARRO Seventh seed Mirra Andreeva has enough reasons to feel confident after she dismantled Hailey Baptiste in straight sets to reach the last 16. "With every match I play I feel my level is rising," Andreeva said after Saturday's win. The 18-year-old has emerged as a dark horse for the women's title after winning her first two WTA 1000 trophies this year, notably beating Aryna Sabalenka to clinch the Indian Wells Open in March. Andreeva has yet to drop a set as she faces 10th seed Emma Navarro, who knocked out defending champion Barbora Krejcikova in the third round. However, for Navarro, the win came with an asterisk as Krejcikova was visibly struggling with injury as she lost the match after winning the first set. "Neither of us played our best tennis," Navarro said. A win over Andreeva would be the best way for the American, who reached the quarter-finals last year, to announce herself as one of the major contenders for the title. WIMBLEDON ORDER OF PLAY ON MONDAY (prefix number denotes seeding) Centre Court (Play begins at 1230 GMT) 11-Alex de Minaur (Australia) v 6-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 7-Mirra Andreeva (Russia) v 10-Emma Navarro (U.S.) 1-Jannik Sinner (Italy) v 19-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) Court Number One (Play begins at 1200 GMT) 18-Ekaterina Alexandrova (Russia) v Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) 10-Ben Shelton (U.S.) v Lorenzo Sonego (Italy) 8-Iga Swiatek (Poland) v 23-Clara Tauson (Denmark) Court Number Two (Play begins at 1000 GMT) Marin Cilic (Croatia) v 22-Flavio Cobolli (Italy) 19-Liudmila Samsonova (Russia) v Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (Spain) REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Singapore kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder switches coach; wins silver at Youth European C'ships
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – With an eye on the future, Singaporean kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder has switched up his coaching set-up and is now training with the Swiss team alongside his younger brother Karl, 16. The move sees him working under Swiss coach Matthieu Girolet, with their first unofficial training camp held about four weeks ago. In his first event since the switch, the 18-year-old clinched the men's silver at the International Kiteboarding Association Youth European Championships in Gizzeria, Italy, on July 6. Italy's Riccardo Pianosi claimed gold, while the bronze medal went to Switzerland's Gian Stragiotti. 'I'm in with a new team, which means I have a new coach, new training partners... It has felt like it's been really productive work,' said Maeder, whose father Valentin is Swiss and mother Hwee Keng is Singaporean. 'It's a new environment, there's some things to get acclimatised to. However, I feel like it's really good work and I feel like it has great potential for the future.' At Hang Loose Beach, Maeder led the opening series with 17 nett points to secure direct qualification into the grand final, entering with a match-point advantage. That meant he needed just one race win to seal the title, while Pianosi, who had finished second with 25 points, had to win twice. But on July 6, an in-from Pianosi, who finished fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympics, forced a decider after edging out Maeder in the first race of the grand final. He then carried that momentum into the second race, winning ahead of Stragiotti and Poland's Vojtech Koska. Maeder finished fourth, settling for silver. Maeder was previously coached by Ivica Dolenc, who had worked with him since he was 14. Under Dolenc's guidance, he rose to become a double world champion and won Olympic bronze at the Paris Games, making him Singapore's youngest medallist at the quadrennial event. Explaining the change in his coaching set-up, Maeder said: 'The (previous) set-up worked for a while and it was pretty good. 'The thing is, I felt there was more in the tank and I felt the team I was with had brought me so far but for the future, if I wanted to aim for even more Games, perhaps this team I had already was not the best choice. 'It was all right, but I saw the set-up that the Swiss had and how my brother was working and I thought that would be the long-term way to go.' Elaborating, he said he was drawn to the Swiss team's approach to improving performance. He added: 'I feel like there's a strong sense of performance in the way that you search for anything and everything that can bring you further in performance in a methodical and analytical way. 'I feel like having more minds put together on briefing, debriefing, analysing and the spirit that was in the team I felt was the right thing. 'That's the concrete difference – the spirit was different in the sense that the ambition and the aim, at least how it was manifested, and how analytical the whole set-up is.' Next on Maeder's schedule is the Sept 27-Oct 5 Formula Kite World Championships in Sardinia, Italy, where the two-time defending champion will be looking to retain his title. Feeling positive about his new training team, Maeder also acknowledged that it will take time for the changes to come through. He said: 'I'm pretty well tuned in (to the change). It's just about letting the set-up have its effect over time. 'It takes some time for things that are in place to have their effect, especially at this level... so one month, two months before you properly see the effects that the changes have and of course, there's a lot of things to get acclimatised to.'
