Arsenal’s summer transfer window is finally underway, with the arrival of Martin Zubimendi the first real statement of intent from Mikel Arteta ahead of the 25/26 season.
Arteta has his man. Zubimendi officially signed for Arsenal on Sunday, after what was a ridiculously long transfer saga for the Spaniard.
“Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. “He will fit in really well and has all the attributes to be a key player for us.
Signed, sealed and delivered – but the 26-year-old’s transfer was in doubt on multiple occasions, and external factors very nearly ensured that Zubimendi never actually made his way to the Emirates.
Rodri injury posed Martin Zubimendi threat
This transfer experienced multiple hurdles, but the fact that Arsenal were able to fend off the mighty Manchester City shows the calibre of signing the Gunners have pulled off.
When the Gunners faced City on 22 September 2024, Thomas Partey and Rodri collided, resulting in the Spanish midfielder suffering a serious ACL injury that sidelined him for several months.
The Ballon d’Or winner’s absence created a void that needed addressing for the former champions, sparking speculation that Pep Guardiola might look to reinforce in January, with Zubimendi among the names linked.
It would have been quite poetic if Arsenal had been the catalyst in propelling Zubimendi to the Cityzens, but now he’s Emirates-bound. Funny how things work out.
Xabi Alonso also wanted Martin Zubimendi
At the same time, there was ongoing speculation that Xabi Alonso, Zubimendi’s idol and former coach at Sociedad B, could be appointed at Real Madrid. Something we now know has materialised.
Had that happened at the time, a move for the Spain international would have felt inevitable, and it would have been difficult for both Sociedad and the midfielder to turn down such an offer. It was widely known that Madrid held a strong interest in Zubimendi.
He would have slotted into their system perfectly, but ultimately Alonso stayed put at Leverkusen, only departing at the end of the 24/25 campaign.
With hindsight, it’s now clear that Zubimendi and the other parties involved chose not to explore those options further, but it could have been so different!
Zubimendi is a Gunner, and that’s all Arsenal fans will really care about.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
