Transfer News: Arsenal sign Merino from Real Sociedad

-

The Gunners have made a new signing

Arsenal have successfully secured the signing of Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad in a deal potentially worth up to £31.6 million.

Merino playing in La Liga

The 28-year-old is set to join the north London club on a four-year contract, with an option to extend for an additional year. Arsenal will pay an initial fee of £27.4 million, with a further £4.2 million in potential add-ons.

Merino was a key player in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, playing in all seven matches and netting a decisive extra-time goal against Germany in the quarter-finals.

He is Arsenal's third acquisition of the transfer window, following the signings of Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori and Spanish goalkeeper David Raya, who joined permanently from Brentford after a loan spell.

Merino, known for his ability to play as a deep-lying midfielder, is expected to complement Declan Rice, who took on a box-to-box role at times last season. His arrival gives manager Mikel Arteta added flexibility in midfield, with Merino offering competition alongside Rice, Jorginho, Thomas Partey, and Martin Ødegaard.

Having previously spent a season in the Premier League with Newcastle before his move to Real Sociedad in 2018, Merino is familiar with English football. Notably, he played alongside Ødegaard during the Norwegian's loan spell at Sociedad in the 2019-20 season.

The Spanish international, who has earned 28 caps for his country, made 45 appearances across all competitions last season, contributing eight goals.

Premier League: 2024/2025 season (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)

Click here for more transfer news and stories

DJ, an Arsenal fan currently living in France, told us: "I think this is another great signing for the club. We have done some smart business in the transfer market this summer and believe these new players will have a fantastic impact for the club going forward."

Popular posts from this blog

Sliding Doors Moments: What if Scholes wasn’t offside?

-
Image
It's time to for another sliding doors moment in football  We travel back to 2004. Manchester United face Porto in the last-16 of the Champions League.  Author - Liam C What actually happened? A ontroversial offside call against Paul Scholes became a pivotal moment in European football history. The disallowed goal cost United a place in the quarter-finals, while Porto, managed by the up and coming manager José Mourinho, went on to win the competition and launch Mourinho into the managerial elite. But what if Scholes hadn’t been ruled offside? How might this alternative scenario have changed the landscape of world and European football? Scholes wasn’t offside: United progress Had the linesman not flagged Scholes for offside, Manchester United would have progressed to the next round of the Champions League. Scholes' goal was legitimate, and had it stood, United would have won the tie on aggregate, knocking out Porto and ending their European dreams. With the Red Devils moving
Read more

PL News: Ten Hag sacked by Man United

-
Image
There has been a managerial change at Old Trafford. Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag due to the club's disappointing start to the season. Author - Olivia T Ten Hag's last match ended in a 2-1 defeat against West Ham , leaving the club in 14th place in the Premier League with only three wins from their first nine matches. The Red Devils are also 21st of 36 teams in the Europa League league stage, having drawn their three opening matches. Club sources from the club have reportedly suggested that this was a difficult decision but a unanimous one among all the key decision makers.  The club exercised a one-year extension in Ten Hag's contract after their FA Cup final win against Manchester City in May . However, just over three months later, he has been dismissed. United currently sit on 11 points after nine games, marking their second-lowest tally in the Premier League at this stage (only slightly better than the 10 points they had in the 2019-20 season)
Read more

Scotland: Kilmarnock stun Rangers with late winner

-
Image
Kilmarnock 1 - 0 Rangers Rangers remain six points behind the Premiership leaders after suffering a late defeat against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Author - Mark Lee In a lacklustre match, Rangers wasted several opportunities to secure three points. A combination of poor finishing and solid defending from Kilmarnock made it another frustrating afternoon for the Belgian manager. As the game was heading for a draw, David Watson's lob found Marley Watkins, who beat the offside trap and bundled the ball past Jack Butland. The Gers need to regroup quickly ahead of their Europa League match against FCSB on Thursday. Meanwhile, Derek McInnes' team has now moved to seventh place and are just outside the top six on goal difference. A closer look at how Kilmarnock stunned this Rangers side Home form has traditionally been a strength for Kilmarnock , but they had recorded five draws and one defeat in all competitions on their own pitch leading up to this game. ⚽️ Goal of the day: Mar
Read more