Arsenal Finalizes Blockbuster €60 Million Deal as Transfer Nears Completion
Arsenal are on the verge of securing the signature of Real Sociedad and Spain's central midfielder Martín Zubimendi in a deal worth €60 million (£51.7million ; $63.4million), according to recent reports.
The holding midfielder was heavily courted by Liverpool during the previous summer transfer window, before the Merseyside club went on to claim their second Premier League title, but the player chose to remain in his homeland after the European Championship concluded.
Despite Real Sociedad enduring a disappointing La Liga campaign—dropping to 11th place after five consecutive seasons in the top six—Zubimendi's reputation has remained intact, attracting interest from both Arsenal and European giants Real Madrid, who have claimed the Champions League trophy 15 times.
Nevertheless, Arsenal have successfully won the race for Zubimendi's services, with the North London club having invested considerable effort in securing the agreement.
The Athletic indicates that the move is nearing completion. The 26-year-old has traveled to London for discussions with club representatives and is anticipated to put pen to paper on an extended deal at the Emirates Stadium.
Zubimendi's potential arrival coincides with Arsenal possibly bidding farewell to Thomas Partey, whose current deal expires at month's end. Contract extension negotiations have stalled, increasing the likelihood of the Ghanaian midfielder's free transfer departure.
Should Partey leave, he would join former teammate Jorginho, who departed earlier this month for Brazilian side Flamengo—Arsenal allowed the Italian midfielder to terminate his contract early to enable his participation in the Club World Cup.
Arsenal plan to continue their transfer activity following Zubimendi's completion, with striker recruitment being a primary objective for manager Mikel Arteta. Both Benjamin Šeško from RB Leipzig and Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP have been heavily linked, though neither will be available at bargain prices.