Euro 2024 winner and Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino has agreed to become a new Arsenal player ahead of the transfer deadline, according to reports in Spain.

Transfer Expert, Fabrizio Romano, revealed that a verbal agreement has been put in place for the Spanish midfielder to the Premier League side.

Romano in a post on his X handle said €32m plus €5m add-ons with favourable payment terms have been agreed on for the player to move to the Emirate Stadium.

Reports in Spain added that the negotiations between Arsenal and the Spanish club have ended ‘in an agreement’ and Merino ‘did not train on Wednesday with his current Real Sociedad teammates due to lower back pain, according to the official version, but everything indicates that he was already living his last hours as a player for the San Sebastian club, as the agreement for his transfer to Arsenal was being finalised.’

Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay was ‘seen taking a flight to London’ late on Tuesday and now a deal is set to go through for around €35m.

Arsenal are being tipped by a number of pundits and former players to win the title and their pursuit of Spain international Merino could help them achieve their ambitions.

[Leadership]