Arsenal will pay Real Sociedad an initial €33.5m (£28.43m) for midfielder Mikel Merino; 28-year-old midfielder has agreed terms on a four-year contract at the Emirates; the transfer will be finalised subject to a medical
Friday 23 August 2024 21:05, UK
Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino is in London ahead of his proposed move to Arsenal.
The 28-year-old is expected to complete a medal and sign off on his personal terms over the weekend.
The fee agreed between the two clubs is in the region of €38.5m (£32.67m), made up of an initial fee of €33.5m (£28.43m) and a further €5m (£4.24m) in performance-related add-ons.
The 28-year-old has agreed terms on a four-year deal with the option of a further year.
Merino had entered the final year of his contract at the LaLiga club and was understood to be keen on moving to the Emirates.
The midfielder played in every one of Spain's matches as they won Euro 2024, including scoring a 119th-minute winner in the quarter-final against Germany.
Merino joined Sociedad from Newcastle six years ago and has gone on to make 242 appearances for the club, helping them win the Copa del Rey in 2020.
He spent just one season at Newcastle under Rafael Benitez and started only 14 Premier League matches.
Merino came through the ranks at Osasuna before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2016, where he won the DFB-Pokal under Thomas Tuchel.
