Arsenal ready to activate €60m release clause for January signing

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 26 Nov 2024 07:15 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal are prepared to activate Martin Zubimendi's €60 million release clause in order to sign the Real Sociedad midfielder in January.

That is according to Todofichajes, who report that they expect the Gunners to make a move to bring Zubimendi to the Emirates during the winter window.

The report adds that Real Sociedad themselves are expecting Arsenal - and possibly Liverpool also - to make a €60m bid in January.

READ MORE: European Golden Shoe 2024/25

If the offer arrives, Real Sociedad will not be able to reject it as Zubimendi has a minimum fee release clause of that figure in his contract.

The Real Sociedad midfielder has been a big target of the Premier League this year and he was close to joining Liverpool this past summer.

Earlier in the year, Arsenal had also attempted to persuade the Basque star, but despite broadly agreeing on contract terms, he ultimately decided to break off all communication with the Gunners, leaving them frustrated and unwilling to make fresh contact when the summer window opened.

Arsenal instead signed his Spain international team-mate Mikel Merino, but are now set to make a solid offer at the start of the new year.

Liverpool could now do the same.

The Real Sociedad star decided to snub Liverpool this summer despite initially looking set to depart his boyhood club.

Liverpool had made an approach and Zubimendi initially seemed set to agree to the move.

However, the LaLiga side launched a charm offensive and managed to convince the 25-year-old Spain international to stay in his hometown, much to the surprise of the Reds.

But the feeling in Spain - and at Todofichajes - is that Zubimendi would not say no a second time in January if Arsenal or Liverpool move.

Real Sociedad are well aware of this and are already looking at potential replacements.

Zubimendi at Euro 2024

Zubimendi enjoyed a fantastic Euro 2024 as Spain won the title and he was deemed by many to have been the key man in the 2-1 final win over England.

The midfielder came on at half time for Rodri with the score at 0-0 and immediately changed the game.

Zubimendi has spent his whole career at Real Sociedad, making 202 appearances and scoring eight goals. He won the Copa del Rey in 2020.

Previously he played for Real Sociedad’s B team, making 50 appearances and scoring four goals.

He has been capped 14 times by Spain, winning Euro 2024 and the Nations League last year. He has scored one goal.