Arsenal’s latest summer signing, Martin Zubimendi, has revealed that he had no second thoughts about joining the Gunners once it became clear he would be leaving Real Sociedad this summer.
As Softfootball earlier reported, the Spanish midfielder has signed a five-year contract with Arsenal, much to the delight of manager Mikel Arteta, who is especially excited about the intelligence and composure Zubimendi brings to the midfield.
In his first interview as a Gunner, Zubimendi was full of praise for Arsenal and admitted that the Premier League club was always his first choice. These were his words:
“Once I made the decision to leave, I set my sights on Arsenal because I think their style of play is a good fit for me. It’s a young, highly motivated, and ambitious team. They have shown their potential recently, and I believe the best is yet to come. As soon as you set foot here, you realise how big this club and this team are. Andrea [Berta] and Mikel [Arteta] took excellent care of me, leaving me with no doubts whatsoever.”
“This is a huge moment in my career. It’s the move I was looking for, one I wanted to make. Of course, it’s a big change, but I’m ready to get started.”
Zubimendi’s £55 million move was confirmed on Sunday, coming just a year after he turned down a move to Liverpool. The signing marks Arsenal’s second major addition of the summer, following the arrival of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has taken the No. 13 shirt.
It also marks the second consecutive summer that Arsenal have signed a player from Real Sociedad, having brought in Mikel Merino last year. Zubimendi expressed excitement about reuniting with Merino and Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard, with whom he has shared the pitch in the past. Saying;
“I’ve played many games alongside Merino over the years. It’s important because it will make the transition much easier for me, and I’m sure they’ll be a great help,” he said.
Zubimendi also shares deep ties with Arteta beyond football. Both players grew up in San Sebastián, featured for local side Antiguoko, and eventually represented Real Sociedad—a parallel the new signing finds meaningful. His remarks were as follows:
“We have a lot in common. We come from the same city and played for the same teams. We’ll have something to talk about off the pitch—I’m happy about that.”
With Zubimendi and Kepa now confirmed as Gunners, Arsenal are still very active in the market. Softfootball earlier reported that the club might have an opening to sign Brazilian superstar Rodrygo Goes, following his continuous exclusion from Real Madrid’s starting XI in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Meanwhile, the club is also working behind the scenes to resolve the contract situation of academy sensation Ethan Nwaneri. One thing is certain: Martin Zubimendi is now officially an Arsenal player, and fans can look forward to seeing the Spanish maestro in action at the Emirates.
