Mikel Merino: Position, transfer fee, style of play, stats & more

Arsenal have completed a deal to sign Spain international midfielder Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad.

28-year-old Merino made seven appearances for Spain as Luis de la Fuente's side won Euro 2024, scoring the winning goal for his country in La Roja's quarter-final victory over hosts Germany.

Now Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has identified Merino as a player capable of helping the Gunners over the line in their pursuit of a first Premier League title since 2004.

Here is everything you need to know about new Arsenal signing Mikel Merino.

Mikel Merino age, nationality & background

Born on 22nd June 1996, Mikel Merino is currently 28 years old.

Merino was born and raised in Pamplona, and came through the youth system at Osasuna.

The midfielder's father Angel also has an association to Osasuna having played for the club and been manager of the B team.

Mikel Merino transfer fee and contract

Reports suggest Arsenal agreed a deal worth up to £32.6m to sign Merino from La Liga side Real Sociedad.

The deal involves an up front payment of £28.4m with £4.2m in add-ons.

Merino only had one year remaining on his contract with Real Sociedad.

What to expect from Mikel Merino

Position

Merino is a central midfielder, most naturally deployed on the left side of a midfield three.

Height and build

Merino is 6ft 2 ins and although lean in build, carries power in the middle of the park.

Preferred foot

Merino is a naturally left-footed player.

Style of play

As a fully-fledged Spain international, Merino is an exceptionally technically accomplished midfielder who will be a natural fit within Arsenal's possession-oriented approach under Arteta.

At 6ft 2 ins, Merino is also a physical presence and powerful runner who can cover every blade of grass and make late runs into the box, as demonstrated with his famous winner for Spain against Germany at Euro 2024.

Merino therefore represents a complete midfielder, a 'number eight' who is both capable of knitting play together in possession, winning the ball back and holding his own in physical duels.

Stats

Highest rated players in Champions League 2023/24

1. Vinicius Junior - 7.82
2. Antoine Griezmann - 7.73
3. Phil Foden - 7.70
4. Mikel Merino - 7.67
5. Jude Bellingham - 7.63

(Source: Whoscored.com).

Mikel Merino 2023/24 stats

Metric	Total (per 90)	Top 5 Leagues Rank
Aerials won	5.99	Top 1%
Non-penalty goals	0.20	Top 7%
Tackles in attacking third	0.61	Top 2%
Touches in attacking penalty area	2.89	Top 6%

(Source: FBref.com based on comparison to positional peers across Europe's Top 5 Leagues).

Similar players to Mikel Merino

• Yangel Herrera (Girona)
• Matias Vecino (Lazio)
• Bryan Cristante (Roma)
• Casemiro (Manchester United)

(Source: FBref.com based on similar statistical profiles across Top 5 Leagues in past year)

Career so far

Previous clubs

Merino came through the youth system at local club Osasuna, making 67 senior appearances before being snapped up on a long-term deal by Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in February 2016.

After struggling to break into Dortmund's first team, Merino signed for Newcastle on a loan-to-buy deal in July 2017.

The midfielder 25 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle in the 2017/18 season, before returning to his homeland with Real Sociedad in a deal worth around €12m in the summer of 2018.

It was at Real Sociedad where Merino really found his groove as a professional, growing into a key player for the club and part of the side which won the Copa del Rey in 2019/20.

International caps

Merino represented Merino at U19 and U21 level, and captained the Olympic team which won silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

The box-to-box midfielder made his senior international debut in the Nations League against Germany in September 2020.

Merino was part of the Spain team which won the country's record third Euros title in Germany in 2024.

What Mikel Merino could bring to Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arteta has sought to strengthen Arsenal's left side this summer, with Riccardo Calafiori brought in from Bologna seemingly as a solution to their problems at left-back.

In Merino, the Gunners have a potential replacement for Granit Xhaka, who departed the Emirates for Bayer Leverkusen last summer.

In Arteta's 4-3-3 set up, Merino seems most naturally suited to play on the left side of the midfield three just as Xhaka previously did.

The acquisition of Merino would therefore provide Arteta with added depth in central midfield, with the Spaniard to compete for his place with Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.

Technically assured and comfortable in a possession-dominant team, Merino would also add extra size and power within an already physically formidable Arsenal team.

The Spain international has also added more goals to his game in recent seasons, netting eight times for Real Sociedad in all competitions in 2023/24.

Mikel Merino: What they said

I said it before and I'll say it again in case it's not clear. Mikel Merino is the best player in La Liga.

- Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil, December 2021 (AFP).