Why Arsenal are paying €10m MORE than Zubimendi's release clause

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 11 Jun 2025 11:58 BST
4 min read

Arsenal will pay €10 million more than Martin Zubimendi's release clause in order to sign him this summer.

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The Gunners have agreed a deal to sign Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, with all respectable sources unanimous that the transfer is a done deal.

Current ETV

Martín Zubimendi

DM, M (C)

Real Sociedad

Martín Zubimendi

DM, M (C)

Real Sociedad

ETV Range

€51.4M - €62.8M

Zubimendi has a €60 million clause in his Real Sociedad contract that it was assumed Arsenal would activate.

However, Diario AS reports that Arsenal will actually pay €70m in order to sign Zubimendi.

Arsenal to sign Zubimendi

So why the extra €10m?

The reason is that by paying €70m, Arsenal will be allowed to pay the transfer fee over three installments rather than €60m in one chunk.

FootballTransfers’ Steve Kay was the first to report that Zubimendi will become Arsenal’s first big signing of the summer transfer window.

FootballTransfers understands that Mikel Arteta’s side have long since agreed personal terms with Zubimendi.

The 26-year-old made 48 appearances across all competitions for Real Sociedad this past season, scoring two goals, and his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) currently stands at €57.1 million.

Zubimendi was close to signing for Liverpool last summer, while Real Madrid were interested ahead of this summer.

Zubimendi at Euro 2024

Zubimendi enjoyed a fantastic Euro 2024 as Spain won the title and he was deemed by many to have been the key man in the 2-1 final win over England.

The midfielder came on at half time for Rodri with the score at 0-0 and immediately changed the game.

Zubimendi has spent his whole career at Real Sociedad, making 232 appearances and scoring 10 goals. He won the Copa del Rey in 2020.

Previously he played for Real Sociedad’s B team, making 50 appearances and scoring four goals.

He has been capped 18 times by Spain, winning Euro 2024 and the Nations League. He has scored two goals.

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