Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is set for a medical with Arsenal, with the midfielder’s documents signed and a transfer in the closing stages.
Sami Mokbel reports for the BBC that Martin Zubimendi is set to hold a medical with Arsenal before officially completing his summer transfer, with all the relevant transfer documents now signed and the deal in the closing stages.
As the paperwork is complete, all parties are relaxed about scheduling the medical, but there is a desire to wrap up the formalities quickly.
If and when Zubimendi passes the medical, Arsenal will then be able to announce the deal.
Mokbel adds that the payment structure of Zubimendi’s transfer has already been agreed, following previous reports that the Gunners would look to spread the cost over multiple payments – as opposed to paying the player’s £51m release clause upfront.
It’s unclear what structure the two clubs ultimately agreed upon, but it seems those talks have reached a conclusion one way or another.
Real Sociedad fans chanted “Zubi quédate, Zubi quédate!” or “Zubi stay, Zubi stay!” after Zubimendi’s final home game of the season, but reports suggested the player had already made up his mind to leave.
Zubimendi ended up making 48 appearances for Real Sociedad in 2024/25, as well as starting six of Spain’s last eight matches. The 26-year-old has been called up again for the June international break.
The defensive midfielder has spent his entire career so far with Real Sociedad, despite regularly receiving approaches from many of the best clubs in Europe. Liverpool were particularly keen to sign him last summer, but he turned them down.
Arsenal will be glad to have finally convinced the player to move on, and they’ll surely breathe a sigh of relief once the formalities are complete.