Michael Merino signs long-term deal for Arsenal | news

Spain international Mikel Merino has joined us from La Liga side Real Sociedad on a long-term deal.

The 28-year-old midfielder has been a key member of the Sociedad squad since joining the Basque side in 2018. At the heart of their midfield, he made 242 appearances, scoring 27 goals and assisting 30 times.

Born in Pamplona, ​​Spain, Michael started his career with Osasuna. He progressed through the youth ranks to the first team, making 67 appearances and scoring eight goals. In July 2016, he joined Borussia Dortmund and helped them win the German Cup the following May.

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That summer, Michael joined Newcastle United on a season-long loan, and after making a strong initial impression, he signed a permanent contract, and a few months later, he made 24 Premier League appearances in his first season.

In 2018, Sociedad signed Michel and he played his football there. He played an integral role as they won the 2020 Copa del Rey and qualified for the Champions League last season, winning more duels for possession with 326 recoveries than any other player in Europe’s top leagues.

Mikel is an experienced international who has played 28 matches for Spain. At the youth level, he won the European Under-19 Championship in 2015 and the European Under-21 Championship in 2019. He is also an Olympic silver medalist and was instrumental in Spain’s second-place finish at the 2020 Games in Japan.

He was part of the team that won the 2023 UEFA Nations League, defeating Croatia 5–4 on penalties in the Rotterdam final. Most recently, the midfielder helped his country win the European Championship, with Spain beating England 2-1 in the final. Michael particularly made his mark in La Roja’s run to the finals, scoring a 119th-minute winner in the quarter-final against Germany.

Sporting director Edu said: “We are delighted to have completed the transfer of Michael Merino. It was another great team effort by many at the club to finalize the transfer of a player who attracted interest from a number of clubs in the summer.

„Michael has been a key target for us this summer and as we aim to build on our strong performance from last season, we have identified him as a player who fits perfectly into our squad and profile to help us improve. With the arrival of Michael, he is an additional high quality experience for us as we look forward to this season.” , brings physicality and athleticism.

„We welcome Michael and his family to the club and look forward to seeing him play in an Arsenal shirt.”

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Mikel Arteta added: „Michael is a player who will bring us great quality with his experience and versatility. He has played at the top of the game at club and international level for several seasons now. Mikel has significantly improved our team with his strong and positive character and personality, as well as his technical ability. He will make strong.

„As we all saw over the summer, Michael is also a winner and his strong performances throughout the Euros helped Spain win the tournament. We are delighted to welcome Michael and his family to the club and can’t wait to start working with him.

Michael will wear the number 23 shirt and immediately join his new teammates at the Sofa Reality Training Centre.

Everyone at Arsenal welcomes Michael Merino to the club.

The transfer is subject to completion of regulatory processes.

Find out everything you need to know about Michael These 15 factsand his analysis Playing style and key stats