Arsenal has announced the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in a £51m deal, marking their first significant signing of the summer transfer window.
The 26-year-old Spanish international has signed a five-year contract with the Gunners, beating off competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.
Zubimendi expressed his excitement about joining Arsenal, saying, “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,” he added.
“I set my sights on Arsenal because their style of play is a good fit for me.”
Zubimendi’s arrival will significantly boost Arsenal’s midfield, which has undergone a reshuffle following the departures of Thomas Partey and Jorginho.
Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta said: “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.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta welcomed Zubimendi to the team, saying, “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.
Zubimendi will wear the number 36 shirt and reunite with Mikel Merino, who joined Arsenal last summer.
With Zubimendi’s signing, Arsenal is now reportedly in advanced talks with Sporting CP over the signing of striker Viktor Gyokeres.
According to the Athletic, personal terms with the Swedish international are not an issue, but a transfer fee has yet to be agreed upon.
Arteta is keen to land Gyokeres before players return for pre-season training, which could further strengthen Arsenal’s squad for the upcoming season.
Leave a comment