Arsenal sign Spain midfielder Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad

Graphic.com.gh Sports News Aug - 27 - 2024 , 15:54

Arsenal have announced the signing of Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad on a long-term contract.

The 28-year-old midfielder will provide Mikel Arteta with another midfield option to complement Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.

Merino is a versatile midfielder, able to play in either the No. 6 or No. 8 position.

He won the most duels (326) of any player across Europe's top five leagues last season and will add an extra degree of bite to Arteta's midfield.

“Mikel is a player who will bring us huge quality with his experience and versatility," said Arteta.

"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.”

Merino's departure is a blow for La Real, who did not want to lose the midfielder's services.

But after failing to agree a new deal with a player who had only one year left on his contract, the Basque side decided to cut their losses.

He made six appearances for La Roja's Euro 2024 winning team, scoring an extra-time winner over hosts Germany in the quarter-finals.

Aside from his Euro 2024 success, Merino has international honours at youth-team level with Spain, winning the Under-19 European Championship in 2019 and 2015.

He has also won the UEFA Nations League and has German Cup and Spanish Cup winners' medals from his time with Borussia Dortmund and Real Sociedad respectively.

Merino becomes Arsenal's third signing of the season after the Gunners made David Raya's loan from Brentford a permanent one, and added Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori for an estimated fee of £35 million.