Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino on a permanent deal from La Liga side Real Sociedad, Afrosport reports.
According to reports from popular transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal, and Sociedad have agreed to a deal worth around €32 million plus €5 million in add-ons, with Merino set to sign a contract until 2028 with the option for a further year, pending a medical.
🚨🔴⚪️ Mikel Merino to Arsenal, here we go! Verbal agreement in place for Spanish midfielder to join Gunners.
€32m plus €5m add-ons with favorable payment terms. Contract until 2028.
Arsenal were closing in on Merino deal since end of July, Merino only wanted Arsenal.
🧘🏼♂️🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/k0JjCeeBEO
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 22, 2024
The 28-year-old Spain international won the European Championship with La Roja in July, including scoring the winner in their 2-1 win over hosts Germany in the quarterfinals.
Since he joined in 2018, Merino has been a fan favourite at Sociedad, making 242 appearances, scoring 27 goals, and providing 30 assists in all competitions.
The Spaniard will return to the Premier League having previously played for Newcastle United. Should he pass his medicals, Merino would become Mikel Arteta’s second signing of the season after they brought in Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.
