Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino has been pictured at a Spanish airport as he prepares to complete his permanent transfer to Arsenal.
The 28-year-old has been targeted by Mikel Arteta for a number of weeks, and following a protracted period of negotiations, a breakthrough was finally reached on Thursday.
The Gunners have reportedly agreed to pay an initial fee of £28.4m for the Euro 2024 winner, who had just one year left on his La Real contract, which could rise to £32.6m through performance-related add-ons.
Merino will become Arsenal's third permanent signing of the summer following David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori, and it is believed that talks with Arteta were key to convincing the midfielder that his future belonged in North London.
The Gunners boss was typically coy on the rumours when asked in Friday's pre-Aston Villa press conference, but it is now seemingly only a matter of time before Merino is presented to the Emirates crowd.
Mikel Merino vuela a Londres desde el aeropuerto de San Sebastián rodeado de su familia para formalizar su fichaje por el Arsenal. #RealSociedad
— El Diario Vasco (@diariovasco) August 23, 2024
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Merino flying to London to complete Arsenal move
The former Newcastle United man was spotted arriving at a San Sebastien airport with his family earlier on Friday, prior to which he was also seen bidding farewell to members of Real Sociedad's staff.
Merino will soon undergo his medical with the North London club before putting pen to paper on a long-term contract, thereby ending a successful seven-year stay with Real Sociedad, whom he joined for £10.2m in 2018.
The midfielder departs Imanol Alguacil's side with a record of 27 goals and 30 assists in 242 matches across all competitions, including eight goals and five assists in 45 matches during the 2023-24 term.
Merino has won one Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad, but he was left out of their squad for their opening La Liga loss to Rayo Vallecano last weekend, after which Alguacil confirmed that he was in talks to join Arsenal.
The 28-year-old's Emirates switch will see him earn a shot at Premier League redemption after his underwhelming spell at Newcastle in 2017-18, where he played 24 times in the top flight but managed just one goal and one assist.
Where will Merino fit in at Arsenal?
© Imago
A midfielder of Merino's profile was seemingly the last thing that Arsenal were targeting this summer, as the Gunners were initially expected to pursue a number six a la Merino's Real Sociedad teammate Martin Zubimendi.
However, with Zubimendi staying loyal to Sociedad and other options such as Bruno Guimaraes proving unattainable, Arsenal switched their focus to Merino, who has experience of playing as a defensive midfielder.
The 28-year-old's success in San Sebastian has largely come in a number eight position, but Declan Rice excelled in that slot during his debut Arsenal campaign, while Martin Odegaard is undroppable in the engine room.
As a result, Merino could very well be signed as competition and cover for Rice, unless Arteta plans on reverting the Englishman to a number six role and promoting the Euro 2024 winner to the first XI immediately.
Jorginho and Thomas Partey are Arsenal's two primary options in the deepest midfield position at present, but both are out of contract next summer, and the latter was criticised for his display in last weekend's 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Ben Knapton
