Arsenal complete deal to sign Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad

Thursday, 22 August, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

Arsenal have reached an agreement with Real Sociedad to sign midfielder Mikel Merino. 

The deal is worth €32m plus €5m add-ons with favorable payment terms and contract reached until June 2028 plus an option until 2029.

Arsenal were closing in on Merino deal since the end of July as the player only wanted Arsenal. 

Mikel Arteta has been passionate about improving his midfield options to compete against a strong Manchester city and Liverpool midfield. 

The midfielder will become Arsenal’s third major signing of the summer, after deals for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and Bologna centre-back Riccardo Calafiori.

Merino has cemented a reputation as one of La Liga’s best midfielders across recent campaigns and was named in the divisional Team of the Season in 2022/23, after helping Sociedad to Champion League qualification.

The 28-year-old formed part of Spain’s victorious squad at this summer’s European Championship and scored the decisive goal in extra-time of the Euro 2024 quarter-final win over Germany.

His move to North London will mark a return to English football for Merino, who had a short-lived spell at Newcastle United during the 2017/18 season before returning to Spain.

Arsenal will travel to Aston Villa on Saturday in their second Premier league match of the 2024/2025 campaign, as they seek revenge against former manager Unai Emery who defeated them 2-0 in their second leg match at Emirates stadium last season. 

The defeat to villa was significant in Arsenal's title slip that helped Manchester city win the Premier League instead.

Arteta has also been hunting for a striker, with Napoli's striker Victory Ohsimen on Arsenal's radar.

However, the Gunners do not appear to be desperate for a main striker as German midfielder Kai Havertz has fitted perfectly in the role.

Havertz was Arsenal's second top scorer last season after Bukayo Saka, and scored a goal assisting another in Arsenal's victory against Wolves at Emirates last weekend.