Real Sociedad sells Zubimendi to Arsenal for 70 million.

Real Sociedad and Arsenal publicly announced the transfer of Martín Zubimendi (San Sebastián, 26 years old) from the Basque team to the London club for approximately 70 million euros. The release clause was 60 million, but the clubs have agreed on an installment payment that increases the total amount. The player will wear the number 36 on his jersey, which he donned during his debut at Real and also when he won the Copa del Rey. He has signed a five-season contract, significantly improving what he had with Real.

The Spanish international had previously been courted by clubs like Liverpool and Bayern, but he chose to remain with the team where he started from the bottom. The club, presided over by Jokin Aperribay, bid him farewell with honors: “Martín Zubimendi leaves the txuri urdin club with 236 official matches under his belt. He made his debut in the 2019-2020 season in a match against Getafe CF and has since remained a regular starter,” reads the announcement regarding his transfer. “Since he was fourteen years old in Zubieta, the San Sebastián native has been an example for everyone. Commitment, demand, and maximum performance are what he has given while steering the txuri urdin ship from the midfield. With him on the field, the team has achieved the best results in recent times.”

In his farewell statement, the player himself notes, “I have achieved the Cup, five qualifications for Europe, and wonderful Champions nights, but the best part has been the journey, the day-to-day in Zubieta.” In this sense, “I want to thank all the coaches for their contributions to Real, especially Imanol, for his trust and the work values he has instilled in me, which are now part of me. Thanks to Aperribay for making history and making me feel like an important part of this project that has brought us so much joy. He, Olabe, and now Bretos have taken Real to another dimension. I leave at ease, knowing that Real is in the hands of people who love the club.”

In his message to the fans of his new team, Zubimendi acknowledges that, “once I made the decision to leave, I set my sights on Arsenal because I believe their style of play suits me. They are a young, highly motivated, and ambitious team. They have recently demonstrated their potential, and I believe the best is yet to come.”

In the London team led by Mikel Arteta, he will reunite with two former Real Sociedad teammates, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino, with whom he shared some of the brightest years for the Basque team in the last decade. “I am happy to be here with them. I have played many games alongside Merino over the years. This is important because it will make the transition much easier for me, and I am sure they will be a great help.” Arteta, his new coach, states that “Martín is a player who will bring immense quality and football intelligence to our team. He will fit perfectly and has all the qualities to be a key player for us.”