Mikel Merino is a ‘win now’ signing for Arsenal.
In some ways, this is an atypical deal for the club. A fee that could rise to €37.5 million (£31.6 million; $41.8 million) is a significant price to pay for a 28-year-old with 12 months left on his contract at Real Sociedad – so much so that Arsenal deliberated before making the move. This signing exists outside of the overall recruitment philosophy.
Ultimately, Arsenal were convinced that this was a deal that could help them in the short term; the type of signing that could help them take the title from Manchester City in the next couple of years.
The last 28-year-old to be signed by Arsenal was Leandro Trossard in January 2023. The Belgian has contributed significantly to Arsenal’s progress over the past 18 months. Arsenal believe their youthful base allows them – perhaps even forces them – to add experience to their squad. “It’s very simple,” Arteta said upon Trossard’s arrival. “The team can absorb a 28-year-old right now – with the right experience, the right versatility and the right quality.”
Arsenal believe Merino has qualities that should allow him to hit the ground running – he has played in England before, having spent the 2017-18 season at Newcastle, is a former team-mate of Martin Odegaard at La Real, and has an inherent understanding of Arteta’s positional tactical system.
Merino was part of Spain’s victorious Euro 2024 squad (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
It’s a deal that’s been in the works for some time. Arteta has been tracking Merino for years – Arsenal considered a move for him last summer when Granit Xhaka left. In the winter of 2023, Merino informed La Real that he was dreaming of returning to the Premier League.
Until recent weeks, Real persisted in their attempts to persuade Merino to renew a contract that expired in 2025. They knew, however, that it would be an uphill battle, especially once Arsenal’s interest became known.
Arsenal first made informal contact with Real Sociedad during the Basque club’s pre-season trip to Japan in early July and they were open about their interest in Merino and their understanding that the player wanted to join them.
Real Madrid were also aware of Atletico Madrid’s interest, but the player did not follow up on that request. His attention was on Arsenal. Conversations between Merino and Arteta had convinced the Spain international that his future lay in north London.
So why the delay? Despite confirmed interest from Arsenal, a formal offer only arrived in August.
While Arteta was convinced Merino was the right fit, there were high-level discussions within the Arsenal hierarchy over whether it was the right move. The club acknowledged that adding Merino, 28, to a central midfield that already included Thomas Partey (31) and Jorginho (32) was not necessarily ideal.
Merino previously played in England at Newcastle United, whom he joined in 2017 (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
But Arsenal have not been particularly enamored by the midfield options available on the market this summer, whether at No.6 or No.8. Arteta is a long-time admirer of Merino’s Real Sociedad team-mate Martin Zubimendi, but the release clause in his contract required the full €60m fee to be paid up front. In this tough market, opting for Merino, a safe bet with Premier League experience, has become more appealing.
Arsenal also waited until they were sure of a significant departure before accelerating negotiations. Arsenal’s strategy this summer has been focused on improving the squad, not expanding it. When they signed Riccardo Calafiori, they waited until Emile Smith Rowe’s move to Fulham was almost certain. As Eddie Nketiah appears to be heading for the exit door, Arsenal have stepped up talks around Merino.
An initial offer of €30 million with €5 million in potential bonuses was rejected as Real Sociedad demanded a higher price. Last week, the president of La Real Jokin Aperribay travelled to London, with face-to-face talks on the agenda. One of the outstanding points concerned the payment of a solidarity allowance of around €1 million. The discussions advanced well on Wednesday before a compromise was reached on Thursday: an initial allowance of €33.5 million with €5 million in variable clauses.
On Friday morning, the two clubs formalized their agreement. Merino said goodbye to the Zubieta training center before flying to London to undergo a medical.
Arsenal will be hoping Merino can be the midfielder Kai Havertz was meant to be.
When Arsenal signed the Germany international from Chelsea last summer, they couldn’t have been more upfront – though that’s not a bad choice of words – about their plans. When introducing Havertz on Arsenal’s official website, Mikel Arteta said: “He will bring a huge additional strength to our midfield.” Havertz was even listed as a midfielder on the site’s team page.
But the best-laid plans don’t always come to fruition. As the season wore on, it became increasingly clear that Havertz was better as a central striker. “Often it’s the players who decide where they should play,” Arteta admitted. “You can have certain ideas, but then you see certain relationships and it flows. When it flows, you have to let it go. That’s what’s happening with Kai.”
As Havertz progressed, so did Declan Rice. The former West Ham player was brought in to play as a No.6 but as Arsenal’s team evolved, he took on a more advanced role as a No.8 on the left. It fell to Jorginho and Partey to share the responsibilities as the lowest midfielders.
It worked. Havertz became the club’s number one striker, but Arteta still liked what the former Chelsea player brought to midfield: physical presence, dominance in duels, stamina and intelligent running. He needed two Havertzes: one to lead the line, another to support from midfield.
That is why Arsenal are increasingly interested in Merino. The parallels between the Spaniard and Havertz, particularly in terms of physicality and tactical intelligence, are striking. His signing allows Arsenal to return to Arteta’s ‘Plan A’ in midfield: fielding Rice as a No.6, with Merino partnering Odegaard as a No.8. Arsenal have talked about Merino filling what is still sometimes referred to as ‘the Xhaka role’, even 12 months after the Swiss international’s departure.
This is not a hard and fast rule. Arsenal’s recent signings have been notable for their versatility and Arteta’s willingness to be flexible in their deployment. Rice will undoubtedly play more as a No.8 this season. Arsenal believe Merino can provide cover at No.6 if needed, but the direction seems to be a three-man midfield of Rice, Merino and Odegaard.
Merino is expected to possess some of the qualities Arsenal initially expected from Havertz (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
The signing leaves Arsenal with plenty of work to do in the next few transfer windows. Given the respective ages of Merino, Partey and Jorginho (with the latter two out of contract next summer), Arsenal know that an injection of youth will be needed in the next two years. The club recognises that a younger midfielder will need to arrive in the next two transfer windows.
But Trossard has shown it is not too late to make a significant impact at 28. Ian Wright was two months shy of 28 when he joined Arsenal. Although he arrives as a seasoned veteran, Merino is still nearly four years younger than his predecessor Xhaka.
Another benefit of signing Merino is that he could act as a bridge for young midfielders like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to stake their claim for a first-team place.
But for now, Arsenal are focused on the 2024-25 season and on conquering the Premier League. The signing of Merino is the perfect proof of that.
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(Other contributors: Mario Cortegana and Guillermo Rai)
(Top photo: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
