Real Madrid's Renewed Interest in Martin Zubimendi

Real Madrid have come back for Martin Zubimendi. They tried to steal him once and failed. They clearly haven’t forgotten.

The Spanish giants are again exploring a move for the Arsenal midfielder, football.london understands, a year after arriving late to the race and watching the Gunners walk away with one of La Liga’s most intelligent operators. This time, the situation is different – and more complicated.

Madrid divided, Arsenal unmoved

Inside the Santiago Bernabéu, the idea of signing Zubimendi is far from unanimous. Senior figures are split on whether the 27-year-old is the right piece for a squad already packed with midfield talent. Some see a natural fit; others question the need.

At Arsenal, the stance is clearer. Mikel Arteta does not want to sell. Zubimendi is under contract at the Emirates Stadium until June 2030, and the manager still views him as part of the core group for the coming season. Yet in modern football, every player has a price, and Madrid know it.

Arsenal paid a little over £51 million to prise Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, seeing off interest from both Liverpool and Real Madrid last year. By the time Los Blancos formally registered their interest, as reported in June 2025, Arsenal already had a full agreement in place. Madrid arrived three months too late and were forced to watch as the Spain international headed to north London.

A long courtship pays off

This was no impulse buy from Arsenal. Zubimendi had been on their radar for some time. The club seriously considered moving for him in the summer of 2024, when they were also pursuing Mikel Merino, but Real Sociedad refused to lose two major midfielders in one window.

So Arsenal waited. They kept dialogue open with the Basque club, protected a strong relationship, and circled back a year later to close the deal on their terms. When Arteta finally got his man, he made no attempt to hide his excitement.

“Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team,” Arteta said at the time. “He will fit in really well, and he has all the attributes to be a key player for us.

“The standard he has consistently performed at over the last few seasons for both club and country is exactly why we are so excited to have him with us. We all welcome Martin and his family to the club.”

Arsenal’s hierarchy shared that sense of satisfaction. Sporting director Andrea Berta called the deal a point of pride.

“We are so happy to bring Martin to Arsenal and have a lot of pride in finalising this transfer. Martin was a key target for us and we all know that he is a perfect fit for our squad with the high quality he has.

“We welcome Martin and his family to the club. We look forward to him settling in with his teammates and are very excited to see him playing in an Arsenal shirt.”

A statement move, a demanding season

For Zubimendi, the move felt like a career milestone, not just a lucrative step.

“This is a huge moment in my career,” he said on arrival. “It’s the move I was looking for and one I wanted to make. As soon as you set foot here, you realise how big this club and this team are.

“I set my sights on Arsenal because their style of play is a good fit for me. They have shown their potential recently, and the best is yet to come.”

His first season in England underlined why Arsenal pushed so hard. Zubimendi featured 57 times across all competitions, an enormous workload for a debut campaign, contributing six goals and three assists. His influence wasn’t always spectacular, but it was often subtle: tempo, positioning, angles, the kind of work that makes a team function.

The year wasn’t flawless. As the season drew to a close, his form dipped and he eventually lost his place in the starting XI. Yet his contribution across the campaign helped Arsenal end a two-decade wait for the Premier League title and reach the Champions League final. Those are the stages Real Madrid consider their natural home.

A familiar suitor, a very different hand

That is what makes this renewed interest so intriguing. Madrid are not chasing potential anymore; they are chasing a proven title-winning midfielder, one already embedded in an elite side and locked into a long-term contract.

Arsenal hold the stronger hand this time. They have the player they wanted, tied down until 2030, integrated into a championship squad. Madrid, by contrast, are wrestling with internal disagreement over whether to push for a deal at all.

Yet when Real Madrid circle a midfielder, the story rarely ends quietly. The question now is not whether Zubimendi is good enough for the Bernabéu. He has answered that on the pitch. The question is how far Madrid are prepared to go – and at what price Arsenal would even consider picking up the phone.