In a breaking football news, Arsenal have officially announced the signing of Euro 2024 champion Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad. This transfer follows the recent acquisitions of Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna and the permanent signing of David Raya, as manager Mikel Arteta focused on bolstering his squad with a central midfielder, with Merino emerging as the preferred choice.
The Gunners’ interest in the 28-year-old had been ongoing before the European Championship, with the Spanish midfielder identified as the perfect partner for Declan Rice in the midfield. Negotiations with Real Sociedad had been underway since Merino’s return from the tournament, culminating in a deal being struck last week.
Merino was notably absent from Real Sociedad’s squad in their first two matches as talks intensified, eventually leading to his arrival in London over the weekend for a medical. Arsenal confirmed the signing of Merino, expressing their excitement for what the future holds with him in their ranks.
According to reports, the transfer fee for Merino is around £27.4m with additional add-ons amounting to £4.2m. The midfielder signed a four-year contract with an option for an extra year, taking squad number 23. Coming from Newcastle United, Merino has made close to 200 appearances in La Liga for Real Sociedad, earning a spot in the Spain national team.
Manager Mikel Arteta shared his thoughts on Merino’s arrival, praising the player’s quality, experience, and versatility. He commended Merino’s success at the highest levels of the game and expressed his belief that the midfielder will enhance the squad with his technical abilities and winning mentality. Arteta welcomed Merino and his family to the club, eager to begin working together towards shared success.
