Arsenal have announced the signing of Spain international Mikel Merino in a €38.5 million (£32m/$43m) move from Real Sociedad.
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Gunners complete Merino dealMidfielder won Euro 2024 with SpainMerino will wear No.23 shirtWHAT HAPPENED?
The Gunners have finally managed to get a deal for Merino over the line. The 28-year-old, who won Euro 2024 with Spain in the summer, has reportedly signed a four-year deal at the Emirates Stadium. The club shared footage of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta introducing Merino to his squad at Sobha Realty Training Centre.
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Arteta said: "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. As we all saw in the summer, Mikel is also a winner, with his strong performances throughout the Euros helping Spain win the tournament. We are delighted to welcome Mikel and his family to the club and can’t wait to start working with him."
Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
There are plenty of Arsenal supporters who believe that the gap to Manchester City will be better tackled with the arrival of a true striker, but Merino brings many attributes to the Gunners' midfield. No midfielder in Europe's top five leagues won more aerial duels last season, and he's adept at winning battles on the ground as well. Indeed, Arteta might have struck gold with his third signing of the summer.
WHAT EDU SAID
Arsenal's sporting director Edu added: "We are so happy to have completed the transfer of Mikel Merino. This has been another great team effort from many people at the club to finalise the transfer of a player who attracted interest from a number of clubs over the summer. Mikel was a key target for us this summer, and 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. We welcome Mikel and his family to the club, and look forward to seeing him play in the Arsenal shirt."
