Martin Zubimendi should get his hands on a familiar shirt number at Arsenal.
Martin Zubimendi will be able to get his hands on a shirt number he has worn previously when he arrives at Arsenal. The midfielder is expected to complete his move to the Emirates Stadium in the near future, albeit he won’t officially become an Arsenal player until the summer transfer window opens.
The latest report suggests Zubimendi will make the trip to London this weekend to sign the final pieces of paperwork and complete his medical. The clubs are likely to announce the deal before it becomes official when the window swings open. The Gunners are expected to pay around £53million to secure the deal, paying an extra £2million to avoid paying the release clause – which is £51million – in one upfront fee.
When Zubimendi does arrive, it will be interesting to see which shirt number he gets, and we already know he cannot wear the number four that he has worn for the last two seasons at Real Sociedad. That number is taken by Ben White.
The number six Zubimendi wears for Spain is currently taken by Gabriel Magalhaes, but the midfielder can still get his hands on a familiar digit. Between 2021 and 2023, Zubimendi wore the number three for La Real, and that number has just been vacated by Kieran Tierney, who is joining Celtic when his contract officially expires on June 30.
That might seem a very defensive number, even for a defensive midfielder, but Zubimendi has traditionally worn typically defensive numbers. Zubimendi has also worn 18 for Spain, as well as the number five, albeit briefly. The number 18 is taken by Takehiro Tomiyasu currently. He has worn the number 36 at various stages of his career, both for Real Sociedad’s first team and B team.
Speaking in the recent international window, Zubimendi played down links with Real Madrid, saying: “Of course there are options, but it’s true that it seems like it’s going to be a different, long summer and I don’t know how it’s going to end. I think right now it’s not my priority, I’m here with the national team, which I already think is quite demanding in itself. It’s an example of what surrounds soccer. Many times I wake up in the morning and read things I didn’t know I’d done. That was a clear example.”
Speaking last year, the Spain international explained his decision to reject a Liverpool transfer last summer. He told El Diario Vasco: “They were uncomfortable moments for me, because, as is normal, people talk a lot. But, anyway, you think about the pros and cons, thinking about it carefully, and you come to the conclusion that, well, for me the best thing was to stay at Real. Each one also looks at their personal progress a little. Because of who I am, the project, and the importance that I was going to have this year, I think that I still had steps to take at Real.
“Yes, there are many variables that come into the equation, but the main one was, selfishly thinking, what was best for me. It is true that then there are those thoughts, but I tell you that I tried to be, although it may seem untrue, as selfish as possible, thinking about myself first and foremost, the best thing was to stay.”
He added: “It didn’t even occur to me to read anything. It’s just that, look, they were difficult days. I didn’t go out much, I didn’t talk much to people, so I isolated myself a little from everything. I didn’t want to be contaminated, but I wanted to not be influenced by… I wanted the decision to be mine alone.
“I don’t think about the last train or things like that. I mean, I don’t believe in those things. If you are good or really want those things, in the end, they will come to you, right? There is not just one option in this life. It depends on how you look at it. There’s quite a lot. I think I have years ahead of me. I am happy with the contract I have, so we haven’t talked about anything else.”
