Martin Zubimendi deal delay explained as Arsenal look to complete summer business early

There is a sense that we have been talking about the summer move for Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal for months. The reason for that is well, because we have.

The expectation remains that the Spanish international will arrive at the club this summer with the club moving to secure who they feel is the best number six on the market this summer after the departure of Jorginho at the end of his deal. The importance of the move gained prominence considering that Thomas Partey is also leaving should the club fail to renew his contract too.

Real Sociedad are powerless to keep the player with a €60million (£51million) release clause in his contract. Arsenal are expected to succeed where Liverpool failed in 2024, having convinced the player of the project under Mikel Arteta.

As the window opened on June 1, many expected that the club would be swift in confirming the signing. There had been reports about a medical coming soon, but football.london understands this has come slightly prematurely and while a medical is required as part of the transfer process, as of the end of last week that was not imminent.

The fan base’s anxiety has not been helped by persistent links to Real Madrid throughout the year. They intensified after the Gunners knocked Los Blancos out of the Champions League, which was something of a typical media response at the time.

Even as late as the end of May, Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay publicly addressed the situation in what felt like a last-ditch attempt to keep him at the club. “Zubimendi is the only player we’ve spoken to,” he said.

“Clubs have asked us, but no player has told us they want to leave. We’ve told Martin to go to the national team calmly, to think about it, and we’d like him to stay.

“We know there are several options. Something may come to fruition or not… I don’t see it happening in the short term. We don’t see it that way, so we have to wait and see.”

The comment about the short term, however, should not offset Arsenal’s confidence. It is understood that it could be beneficial for both clubs, particularly La Real, for the transfer to happen in July for the accounts.

From an Arsenal side, the Profit and Sustainability of the club is healthy already, although it is UEFA Financial Fair Play rules that the club are more stringently restricted by overall. football.london understands that Arsenal are always keen to comply comfortably within the restrictions laid out, despite some hoping they might work up to the limits instead.