Arsenal close in on Real Sociedad midfielder

Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino is getting closer to joining Premier League side Arsenal on a £32.67m deal, with the Spanish international also agreeing to a four-year deal with an option to extend for a year.

The only hindrance for the 28-year-old remains a medical, but it is known that he was keen on moving to North London as his contract with Real Sociedad enters its final year.

Merino showed his quality when he helped Spain to the European Championship in England earlier this summer, where he played all minutes for La Roja and even scored a 119th-minute winner against hosts Germany in the quarterfinal.

The midfielder isn’t a stranger to the Premier League and English football having played for Newcastle United from where he moved to Real Sociedad in 2018 albeit he played at Newcastle United for just a season under Rafael Benitez playing 14 matches in the English top-flight.

In six years at Real Sociedad, he made 242 appearances at the La Liga club and even won Copa Del Rey in 2020. He was left out of La Real’s season opener against Rayo Vallecano, and the Gunners hope to sort out his transfer before this weekend’s Premier League fixture against Aston Villa.

Once the deal is completed, he will become Arsenal’s second major summer signing this year after Italian defender Ricardo Calafiori although David Raya’s loan contract was made permanent this summer too.

Arsenal have been linked to several players from the La Liga club, including Martin Zubimendi. The Gunners were also interested in Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes.

Arsenal started the 2024/2025 Premier League season with a 2-0 victory over Wolves at Emirates Stadium on Saturday. The team has been reinforcing the midfield position in the last two seasons, especially after the exit of Granit Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.