Latest transfer news: Arsenal sign Merino, Wojciech Szczesny retires while Bournemouth close in on Kepa
NEW GUNNER: Arsenal unveil new signing Mikel Merino at Sobha Realty Training Centre. Pic: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images.
Arsenal have completed the signing of Spain midfielder Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad.
An agreement in principle was struck on Thursday night between the clubs for an initial £28.4million transfer with a further £4.2m in add-ons, the PA news agency understands.
Merino completed his medical over the weekend and has been unveiled as an Arsenal player on a long-term contract.
Boss Mikel Arteta told the club's official website: "Mikel is a player who will bring us huge quality with his experience and versatility.
"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.
"As we all saw in the summer, Mikel is also a winner, with his strong performances throughout the Euros helping Spain win the tournament.
"We are delighted to welcome Mikel and his family to the club and can't wait to start working with him."
Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has announced his retirement from professional football.
The 34-year-old explained his decision in an emotional Instagram post, where he admitted after an 18-year career that his heart is “not there anymore”.
Szczesny began his career as a youth player with Arsenal after moving to north London at 16-years-old and made his senior debut for the club in September 2009.
After a loan stint at Brentford, Szczesny became a regular between the sticks for the Gunners for four seasons before joining Roma on loan.
He finished his career with seven years at Juventus, where he won three Serie A titles, three Italian Cups and two Italian Super Cups before his contract was mutually terminated earlier this month.
Szczesny earned 84 caps for Poland and described his career as the “journey of a lifetime”.
Meanwhile Bournemouth are close to agreeing a loan move for Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The 29-year-old, who became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he moved from Athletic Bilbao to Stamford Bridge in August 2018 for £71million, spent last season on loan at Real Madrid.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola was unable to confirm the deal had been completed at his press conference ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup trip to West Ham, but he did admit that “things are happening”.
He added: “Obviously he’s come from Chelsea and from Real Madrid, both very big clubs, and I think he is used to the pressure of playing for those kind of clubs.
“But right now he is not our player so I can’t say any more.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Manchester United reached an agreement in principle to sign Paris St Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte, the PA news agency understands.
The 23-year-old Uruguay international is understood to be on the verge of joining United for €50million (£42.2m), with up to €10m (£8.4m) in add-ons.
The move would mark the latest in a string of summer arrivals for boss Erik ten Hag, who has already strengthened his squad this window with the additions of Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt.
Following reports on Tuesday that he was travelling to Manchester for his medical ahead of the transfer, Ugarte took to X to post a teasing eyes-open emoji.
Romelu Lukaku is still on Chelsea’s books after signing for them in his second spell in 2021. The move did not go to plan and the Belgium forward has been loaned out to Inter Milan and Roma in recent seasons. He is now set to have a medical at Napoli tomorrow with a permanent move away from the Blues on the table.
Fabrizio Romano is reporting Mikel Merino’s move to Arsenal is all agreed and he will join the Gunners on a four-year deal although the club are yet to officially confirm.
Crystal Palace are confident of completing a deal worth up to £30m for Eddie Nketiah after holding more talks with Arsenal over the England striker. Nketiah had looked set to join Nottingham Forest last week after they agreed a fee but that move collapsed over personal terms. Palace are long-term suitors of the 25-year-old and acted after a second defeat of the season, against West Ham, on Saturday.
It is understood they have agreed terms with Nketiah that would make him one of their highest earners, with Arsenal expected to accept their offer of £25m with a further £5m in bonuses.
Chelsea are weighing up whether to make an offer for Brentford’s Ivan Toney as they attempt to sign a striker before Friday’s transfer deadline and have held talks with Manchester United over a swap involving Raheem Sterling and Jadon Sancho.
Toney has emerged as a potential solution for Chelsea after they failed to reach a breakthrough in talks with Napoli over Victor Osimhen.
It is understood that although the Nigeria striker is keen on the move, Chelsea are not willing to match his high wage demands. Napoli are close to signing Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea on a permanent deal.
Toney was left out of Brentford’s matchday squad for the second week in succession after they rejected an offer of £35m from Al-Ahli. It is understood he has been offered a contract by the Saudi Arabian club worth a reported £16m a year but would prefer to stay in the Premier League.
Chelsea are open to taking Sancho on loan from United and sending Sterling in the opposite direction and held discussions on Tuesday over a possible deal.
Sancho, who is five years younger than Sterling, is also of interest to Juventus. Chilwell could also be offered as part of a move for Sancho.
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