Arsenal Agree £33m Deal to Sign Real Sociedad Midfielder Mikel Merino on Four-Year Contract
Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle with Real Sociedad to sign Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino for £32.67 million.
The 28-year-old has agreed to a four-year contract with the option for an additional year.
Merino will undergo a medical before officially signing the long-term contract, with personal terms already settled.
The acquisition of Merino will strengthen Arsenal’s midfield, where he is expected to play as a No. 8.
Merino recently played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, featuring in all seven matches and scoring a decisive goal against Germany in the quarter-finals.
He will be Arsenal’s third signing of the transfer window, following the arrivals of Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori and Spanish goalkeeper David Raya, whom Arsenal made a permanent signing from Brentford.
Merino, who is also capable of playing as a deep-lying midfielder, is expected to complement Declan Rice, who took on a box-to-box role at times last season.
Merino has earned 28 caps for Spain and made 45 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring eight goals.