Arsenal STRIKE agreement for Merino transfer

Suraj Radia

Updated: 22 Aug 2024 16:46 BST
3 min read

Arsenal have finally made a breakthrough in their long-running transfer saga after reaching an agreement with Real Sociedad to sign Mikel Merino.

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The Gunners had been in talks with Sociedad since last month but, despite personal terms having been in place for a number of weeks, negotiations over a fee had proven difficult.

However a deal has now been struck to sign the 28-year-old, with Arsenal set to pay an initial €33.5 million alongside €5m in add-ons to sign their top midfield target, confirmed by the likes of David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano.

Merino is expected to pen a four-year contract with the option for a fifth after undergoing a medical in the coming days.

FootballTransfers had exclusively revealed in July that Arsenal had initiated talks to sign Merino after his standout performances for Spain at Euro 2024.

The ex-Dortmund star was entering the final year of his contract with Sociedad and had been left out of his side’s squad for their opening game of the La Liga last weekend.

© IMAGO - Mikel Merino starred for Spain at Euro 2024

Merino makes Premier League return with Arsenal

Merino is seen as the perfect partner to Declan Rice in Mikel Arteta’s midfield, having won more duels than any other player across Europe’s top five leagues last season.

The Spaniard has also had previous experience in the Premier League, making 17 appearances for Newcastle in the 2017/18 season before being sold to Sociedad for €12m.

Merino’s time back in Spain has seen him establish himself as one of the standout midfielders in La Liga, leading to the first of his 28 caps in 2020, and he scored an extra-time winner against hosts Germany in the quarter-final of Euro 2024.

Current ETV

Mikel Merino

M (C)

Real Sociedad

Mikel Merino

M (C)

Real Sociedad

ETV Range

€15M - €25.1M

Sociedad had been hoping to convince Merino to remain at the club but their stance was softened after seeing midfield partner Martin Zubimendi reject a move to Liverpool this summer.

Merino’s arrival would be Arsenal’s third signing of the summer after sealing a permanent transfer for David Raya as well as bringing in another Euro 2024 star in Riccardo Calafiori.