HERE WE GO: Arsenal agree terms to sign £77m South American striker who has scored 60-goals this season
The summer transfer window is open and Arsenal’s business is nearing a strong start, as the Gunners close in on their first signing of the window.
Much has been made of the Gunners’ need to strengthen after a disappointing end to a season which had begun with much promise, and it is thought by some that Mikel Arteta’s side must spend big this summer if they are to compete next campaign.
Striking options are a prime cause for concern for Arteta, with his side looking severely light up top in the absence of first-team stars such as Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for much of the second half of the campaign.
The Gunners have been linked with the likes of Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres and Leroy Sané, but it is Real Sociedad midfield ace Martin Zubimendi who is set to become Arteta’s first summer signing.
Zubimendi having Arsenal medical after release clause activated
This transfer has appeared to be practically done for a while now, after Fabrizio Romano reported on X back on May 10 that Zubimendi had “verbally agreed to sign a long term deal” with the Gunners, who are set to trigger his €60m (£51m) release clause.
An update on Monday by Alex Howell on the BBC’s transfer Q&A blog confirmed that the deal is getting closer to its official completion, as Zubimendi is “due to have his medical” with all paperwork and personal terms completed.
With the completion of a medical the only thing standing in the way of this transfer, one would assume that it will be announced in the coming days that Zubimendi is an Arsenal player.
This could well be the moment which gets the ball rolling for a heavy summer of transfer activity for the Gunners, who will hope that the Spain international is the first of many players to arrive through the doors at the Emirates.
What the signing of Zubimendi means for Arsenal
In addition to getting the ball rolling for their summer plans, the signing of Martin Zubimendi could be great news for Arsenal’s midfield. With both Jorginho and Thomas Partey looking set to head out of the exit door when their contracts expire this summer, a technical but combative holding midfielder is just what the Gunners need this summer.
But Zubimendi offers more than that – vision, the ability to dictate the pace of a match while also physically imposing himself on opposition midfielders. He has led by example during his time at Real Sociedad, and showed his readiness for the big occasion when he didn’t look a foot out of place after his introduction for the injured Rodri in the final of Euro 2024.
Former Sociedad coach Aitor Zulaika spoke of Zubimendi’s qualities off the pitch which influence his character on matchday.
“The first thing to say about Martin is that he is a complete person as well as being a complete player,” said Zulaika. “He has four characteristics which are not easy to bring together. He is a very humble and simple person, but he is also very proud and has a really strong personality. You don’t often find players with all those qualities together. Martin is one.”
