Arsenal Football Club has secured the signing of Spanish international Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad on a long-term deal.
The 28-year-old midfielder has been a crucial part of Sociedad’s setup since his arrival at the Basque club in 2018.
Over his five-year stint, he featured in 242 matches, contributing 27 goals and providing 30 assists from the heart of the midfield.
Merino, born in Pamplona, Spain, began his football journey at Osasuna, where he advanced through the youth ranks before making his senior debut.
During his time at Osasuna, he made 67 appearances and found the back of the net eight times. His performances earned him a move to Borussia Dortmund in July 2016, where he played a key role in their successful 2017 DFB-Pokaln,German Cup, campaign.
In the summer of 2017, Merino was loaned to Newcastle United. His impact was immediate, and the Premier League side made his move permanent just a few months into the season.
He made 24 appearances in the English top flight during his debut season before Sociedad swooped in to bring him back to Spain in 2018.
At Sociedad, Merino’s influence was immense. He played a pivotal role in their victorious 2020 Copa del Rey campaign and was instrumental in securing Champions League qualification last season.
Remarkably, he led Europe’s top leagues in possession duels won, amassing 326 recoveries—a testament to his defensive work rate and tactical intelligence.
On the international stage, Merino has earned 28 caps for Spain.
His youth career was decorated with successes, including the 2015 European Under-19 Championship and the 2019 European Under-21 Championship.
Merino also showcased his talents at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where he was a key figure in Spain’s journey to the silver medal.
In addition to his Olympic accolade, Merino was a member of Spain’s squad that clinched the 2023 UEFA Nations League title, triumphing over Croatia in a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout in the final held in Rotterdam.
Most recently, Merino added the European Championship to his list of honors, as Spain edged out England 2-1 in the final.
His contributions were crucial throughout the tournament, particularly in the quarter-finals, where he scored a dramatic 119th-minute winner against Germany to send Spain through.
Arsenal’s Sporting Director Edu expressed his delight at securing Merino’s signature, highlighting the collaborative effort involved in the transfer. “Mikel was a key target for us this summer,” Edu remarked. “We identified him as a player who can fit perfectly into our squad and profile to improve us, as we aim to build on our strong performances of last season. With Mikel’s arrival, he brings us an added high quality of experience, physicality, and athleticism as we look forward to this season ahead.”
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s head coach, echoed Edu’s sentiments, emphasizing Merino’s versatility and winning mentality. “Mikel is a player who will bring us huge quality with his experience and versatility.
He has played at the top of the game at both club and international level for a number of seasons now.
Mikel will make our squad significantly stronger, with his technical ability, together with his strong and positive character and personality,” Arteta said. “We are delighted to welcome Mikel and his family to the club and can’t wait to start working with him.”
Merino will don the number 23 shirt and is set to join his new teammates at Arsenal’s Sobha Realty Training Centre immediately.
The transfer is subject to the completion of standard regulatory processes.
Stay tuned to learn more about Mikel Merino’s playing style, key statistics, and 15 essential facts about our newest signing.
