Martin Zubimendi is set to join Arsenal for a fee of £55m, slightly higher than his £51m release clause with Real Sociedad, according to a report.
David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that despite the noise, Arsenal view Martin Zubimendi’s transfer as “done and signed”. The delay is simply because Real Sociedad have expressed a preference for the deal to be ratified in July for accounting purposes.
There are regular links between Zubimendi and Real Madrid at the moment, but Mario Cortegana (also of The Athletic) says sources in Madrid suggest they aren’t pursuing the midfielder.
Cortegana and James McNicholas provide one notable update in the same piece, revealing that Arsenal will pay around £55m for Zubimendi’s transfer.
That’s more than the player’s release clause of ~£51m, with Arsenal and Real Sociedad reaching an agreement for a slightly higher fee to avoid paying the release clause in one lump sum. Instead, the £55m will be paid in instalments.
Spanish outlet Marca ran a full front-page piece on Zubimendi last Tuesday, claiming he’s listening to Real Madrid. But the reliable sources have consistently suggested the player’s Arsenal move is all but done, and that Real Madrid are too late to change that.
Sami Mokbel reported for the BBC a couple of weeks ago that all relevant documents in relation to Zubimendi’s transfer to Arsenal have already been signed, with the transfer now just subject to a successful medical.
Zubimendi made 48 appearances for Real Sociedad in 2024/25, as well as playing nine times for Spain. The midfielder scored in the Nations League final against Portugal on Sunday, making his eighth start in Spain’s last 10 games.