Martin Zubimendi is football’s most coveted No.6 who rejected Arsenal’s rivals for mountain hikes

The phrase ‘to move mountains’ is not one Mikel Arteta uses lightly as he moved heaven and earth to land Martin Zubimendi this summer. The Arsenal boss has attempted to reinvent the wheel in his bid to win the Premier League, but has found his solution closer to home. Zubimendi is set to slot into the Arsenal midfieldAlamy Arteta has battled freestylers, brought Anfield’s atmosphere to the training pitch, and taken note of Ivan Toney’s tweets. He even secretly hired pickpockets for a team dinner last summer to teach his players the importance of being alert at all times. That is not a lesson Arteta will need to teach Zubimendi, with the pair born in the same Spanish city, Donostia-San Sebastian. They also both started at the same youth club, Antiguoko, with their Basque Country connection handing Arsenal a major boost. The Gunners are understood to have struck an agreement to sign the Euro 2024 winner back in January. A £51million move will see Zubimendi leave Real Sociedad for the Emirates after making 47 appearances this season. It represents a remarkable u-turn from the 26-year-old, who spurned the chance to move to the Premier League 12 months ago. Fresh from his starring role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, Liverpool boss Arne Slot was keen to make Zubimendi his first Anfield signing. While a transfer initially appeared close, the Spanish international refused to follow Mikel Merino in swapping Sociedad for England. According to the Daily Mail, a charm offensive led by now-former Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil convinced the player to stay. Zubimendi has evolved into the modern holding midfielderGetty The pair had multiple meetings together, designed to highlight Zubimendi’s quality of life at his boyhood team. The midfield master is a keen hiker and was reminded about his idyllic life in the shadows of the Ulia Mountain range. Zubimendi was also said to be warned about the likelihood of missing the Basque cuisine on which he’s been raised. That is a concept Arteta is more than familiar with, having previously claimed his hometown food is the secret behind the city’s booming breeding ground for elite football managers. “The food! We have the best food in the world. The best restaurants by square metre, the most beautiful city,” he said in September 2023. “It has to be linked to that — what we eat, the way we live. The quality of life in our city is incredible. I think it is related to our roots. The education, the passion about the game. You breathe it within the city. You breathe it everywhere you go.” Zubimendi made 232 appearances for Real Sociedad, scoring 10 goalsGetty GettyHe will say goodbye to San Sebastian[/caption] Arteta wasn’t the only manager from the area in northern Spain to covet Zubimendi, with childhood friend Xabi Alonso also a big fan. Before taking charge of Real Madrid, Alonso crossed paths with Zubimendi while working in a different role over at Sociedad. The 43-year-old previously spent three years as the coach of their B team and nurtured his fellow midfielder through the ranks. “Martín’s a player all coaches would want,” Alonso told The Guardian. “He’s generous, he always thinks more about his teammates than himself. He has that ability to generate play, to make those around him better, always offering solutions; to improve the move. “He understands what the next step is before the ball gets to him. He has that ability to organise, the axis. I loved working with him.” Madrid themselves had a long-standing interest in signing Zubimendi, but Arsenal moved quickly to beat Los Blancos off-the-field as well as on it this season. Zubimendi is one of the most complete midfielders in Europe Zubimendi vs Arsenal midfielders League games only, 2024/25 Zubimendi has a lower pass success rate than Arsenal’s current trio but sends a higher percentage forward Zubimendi, 1,752 passes, 84.42% successful, 31.39% forward Jorginho, 473 passes, 86.89% successful, 26.85% forward Thomas Partey, 1,840 passes, 88.64% successful, 26.85% forward Declan Rice, 1,476 passes, 89.84% successful, 24.66% forward Spain’s long-term successor to Sergio Busquets has long been identified as the missing piece of the puzzle. He seamlessly slotted in for Manchester City‘s Ballon d’Or winner Rodri at half-time of the Euro 2024 final against England. With the game goalless in Germany, Zubimendi extinguished any notion that La Roja would be weakened without the 28-year-old. His profile in the modern game is so scarce, he was the sole signing Liverpool boss Arne Slot wanted to instantly upgrade his team. Tellingly, the Dutchman moulded Ryan Gravenberch into his No.6 after Zubimendi’s rejection rather than buying a back-up option. For Arteta, who has signed two former Sociedad midfielders during his tenure in Merino and Martin Odegaard, he has arrived at the same c

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Martin Zubimendi is football’s most coveted No.6 who rejected Arsenal’s rivals for mountain hikes

The phrase ‘to move mountains’ is not one Mikel Arteta uses lightly as he moved heaven and earth to land Martin Zubimendi this summer.

The Arsenal boss has attempted to reinvent the wheel in his bid to win the Premier League, but has found his solution closer to home.

Zubimendi is set to slot into the Arsenal midfield

Arteta has battled freestylers, brought Anfield’s atmosphere to the training pitch, and taken note of Ivan Toney’s tweets.

He even secretly hired pickpockets for a team dinner last summer to teach his players the importance of being alert at all times.

That is not a lesson Arteta will need to teach Zubimendi, with the pair born in the same Spanish city, Donostia-San Sebastian.

They also both started at the same youth club, Antiguoko, with their Basque Country connection handing Arsenal a major boost.

The Gunners are understood to have struck an agreement to sign the Euro 2024 winner back in January.

A £51million move will see Zubimendi leave Real Sociedad for the Emirates after making 47 appearances this season.

It represents a remarkable u-turn from the 26-year-old, who spurned the chance to move to the Premier League 12 months ago.

Fresh from his starring role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, Liverpool boss Arne Slot was keen to make Zubimendi his first Anfield signing.

While a transfer initially appeared close, the Spanish international refused to follow Mikel Merino in swapping Sociedad for England.

According to the Daily Mail, a charm offensive led by now-former Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil convinced the player to stay.

Zubimendi has evolved into the modern holding midfielder

The pair had multiple meetings together, designed to highlight Zubimendi’s quality of life at his boyhood team.

The midfield master is a keen hiker and was reminded about his idyllic life in the shadows of the Ulia Mountain range.

Zubimendi was also said to be warned about the likelihood of missing the Basque cuisine on which he’s been raised.

That is a concept Arteta is more than familiar with, having previously claimed his hometown food is the secret behind the city’s booming breeding ground for elite football managers.

“The food! We have the best food in the world. The best restaurants by square metre, the most beautiful city,” he said in September 2023.

“It has to be linked to that — what we eat, the way we live. The quality of life in our city is incredible. I think it is related to our roots. The education, the passion about the game. You breathe it within the city. You breathe it everywhere you go.”

Zubimendi made 232 appearances for Real Sociedad, scoring 10 goals

He will say goodbye to San Sebastian[/caption]

Arteta wasn’t the only manager from the area in northern Spain to covet Zubimendi, with childhood friend Xabi Alonso also a big fan.

Before taking charge of Real Madrid, Alonso crossed paths with Zubimendi while working in a different role over at Sociedad.

The 43-year-old previously spent three years as the coach of their B team and nurtured his fellow midfielder through the ranks.

“Martín’s a player all coaches would want,” Alonso told The Guardian. “He’s generous, he always thinks more about his teammates than himself. He has that ability to generate play, to make those around him better, always offering solutions; to improve the move.

“He understands what the next step is before the ball gets to him. He has that ability to organise, the axis. I loved working with him.”

Madrid themselves had a long-standing interest in signing Zubimendi, but Arsenal moved quickly to beat Los Blancos off-the-field as well as on it this season.

Zubimendi is one of the most complete midfielders in Europe

Zubimendi vs Arsenal midfielders

League games only, 2024/25

Zubimendi has a lower pass success rate than Arsenal’s current trio but sends a higher percentage forward

Zubimendi, 1,752 passes, 84.42% successful, 31.39% forward

Jorginho, 473 passes, 86.89% successful, 26.85% forward

Thomas Partey, 1,840 passes, 88.64% successful, 26.85% forward

Declan Rice, 1,476 passes, 89.84% successful, 24.66% forward

Spain’s long-term successor to Sergio Busquets has long been identified as the missing piece of the puzzle.

He seamlessly slotted in for Manchester City‘s Ballon d’Or winner Rodri at half-time of the Euro 2024 final against England.

With the game goalless in Germany, Zubimendi extinguished any notion that La Roja would be weakened without the 28-year-old.

His profile in the modern game is so scarce, he was the sole signing Liverpool boss Arne Slot wanted to instantly upgrade his team.

Tellingly, the Dutchman moulded Ryan Gravenberch into his No.6 after Zubimendi’s rejection rather than buying a back-up option.

For Arteta, who has signed two former Sociedad midfielders during his tenure in Merino and Martin Odegaard, he has arrived at the same conclusion that there is no alternative.

If the mountain won’t go to Mikel, Mikel must go to the mountain…