Arsenal sign midfielder Merino from Real Sociedad

Arsenal person completed nan signing of Spain midfielder Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad for a interest that could scope £31.6m.

The 28-year-old moves to northbound London connected a four-year statement pinch nan action of a further twelvemonth aft nan Gunners agreed to salary an first £27.4m positive £4.2m successful add-ons.

Merino was portion of nan Spain squad that won Euro 2024, featuring successful each 7 matches successful nan tourney and scoring a precocious victor successful other clip against Germany successful nan quarter-final.

He becomes Arsenal's 3rd signing of nan transportation window, aft nan presence of Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori and Spain goalkeeper David Raya, pinch nan Gunners activating nan action to permanently bargain him from Brentford.

Merino tin run arsenic a deeper-lying midfielder and it is thought he will complement Declan Rice, who played a 'box-to-box' domiciled astatine times past season.

He besides provides Arsenal leader Mikel Arteta pinch different action to compete pinch Rice, Jorginho, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard successful midfield.

Merino has erstwhile acquisition of nan Premier League, having spent a twelvemonth astatine Newcastle earlier moving to Real Sociedad successful 2018, wherever he played alongside Odegaard successful 2019-20 erstwhile nan Norwegian was connected indebtedness from Real Madrid.

Merino, who has 28 world caps, made 45 nine appearances successful each competitions past season, scoring 8 goals.