In August 2024, Liverpool manager Arne Slot identified Martin Zubimendi as his top midfield target, viewing the Spaniard as the ideal profile for the base of his midfield.

The Reds triggered his €60 million (£51 million) release clause and offered to triple his wages, but Zubimendi opted to stay at Real Sociedad, citing emotional ties to his hometown club.

Behind the scenes, Zubimendi’s reluctance stemmed from Sociedad’s simultaneous exits of Mikel Merino and Robin Le Normand.



The club persuaded him to stay by offering a contract renewal while maintaining his release clause.

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This late rejection left Liverpool as the only Premier League club without a summer signing at that point.

Since then, it has been relatively quiet on that front, but it has been suggested that bridges were not burned between the Euro 2024 winner and the Merseyside club.

However, since then, multiple reports have surfaced claiming that Arsenal has now closed the deal for the 25-year-old midfielder.

The Gunners plan to activate his €60 million (£50.1 million) clause this summer, bolstering a midfield set to lose Thomas Partey and Jorginho

But according to David Ornstein, it’s not quite so clear cut as being reported elsewhere:

“Without wanting to discredit the reporting of others, I personally haven’t heard this,” the reporter responded around Arsenal’s reported capture in The Athletic’s Q&A session. 

“Arsenal are expecting Zubimendi to join in the summer.

I don’t know if that means it is completely done but for some time now they have been working on the basis that he will be coming in and a huge amount of work went into getting them to that point – while Edu was still in position as sporting director and subsequently when Jason Ayto took over on an interim basis.”

“Andrea Berta will be starting soon as Edu’s permanent successor, so we will hopefully learn as bit more on that and other areas in due course.”

Furthermore, Arsenal and Liverpool – if they are still keen on the Spaniard – may have to contend with interest from Real Madrid as well.

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