Arsenal sign ‘strong personality’ Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad
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Mikel Merino will reportedly cost the Gunners an initial €32 million (S$46.5 million) with a further €5 million in add-ons.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – A flurry of transfer activity took place in the English Premier League on Aug 27, three days before the summer window will shut.
Arsenal completed the signing of Euro 2024 winner Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad, hailing the Spaniard as someone with a “strong personality”. The midfielder will reportedly cost the Gunners an initial €32.5 million (S$47.1 million), with a further €5 million in add-ons.
“Mikel is a player who will bring us huge quality with his experience and versatility,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. “He has played at the top of the game at both club and international level for a number of seasons now.
“Mikel will make our squad significantly stronger, with his technical ability, together with his strong and positive character and personality.”
Merino scored the extra-time winner in Spain’s dramatic 2-1 Euro quarter-final victory over hosts Germany.
The 28-year-old spent the last six years at Sociedad, but does have previous experience of English football. He spent a season at Newcastle United in 2017-18 but largely struggled to shine before returning to Spain.
He becomes Arsenal’s second major signing of the summer, after the arrival of Italian international defender Riccardo Calafiori. Spanish goalkeeper David Raya’s loan from Brentford was also made permanent.
“Mikel was a key target for us, and we identified him as a player who can fit perfectly into our squad and profile to improve us, as we aim to build on our strong performances of last season,” said Arsenal’s sporting director Edu.
“He brings us an added high quality of experience, physicality and athleticism as we look forward to this season.”
Arsenal have finished second to Manchester City in each of the past two Premier League seasons. The north London giants are aiming to go one better this season and win their first league title since 2003-04.
Meanwhile, Liverpool announced the signing of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia but the Georgia international will not arrive at Anfield until next season.
The 23-year-old shone during his nation’s first-ever major tournament at Euro 2024 as Georgia reached the last 16, before bowing out to Spain.
The Reds will reportedly pay €30 million plus a €5 million in add-ons for their first signing of the transfer window.
The club’s current No. 1 Alisson Becker revealed this week that he had rejected lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia. The 31-year-old Brazilian still has two years left on his contract at Anfield but backed the move for Mamardashvili.
“I think the club needs to prepare for the future. We are not going to last forever here,” he said.
“I think it was a good idea, I knew about that (Mamardashvili) before it came out on social media and that is a good message for me because the club cares about what I think.”
Elsewhere, Brighton & Hove Albion added Turkish international fullback Ferdi Kadioglu to their summer rebuild. The 24-year-old has joined on a four-year contract from Fenerbahce for a reported fee of €30 million.
There was a departure at City, as Portugal fullback Joao Cancelo joined Saudi club Al-Hilal .
The 30-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Barcelona, penned a three-year deal with the Saudi Pro League champions in a reported £21.1 million (S$36.3 million) deal. AFP, REUTERS
