Mikel Arteta - Arsenal - Wolves
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Arsenal have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and are preparing to book a medical for another new arrival as their summer transfer activity gathers momentum.
After a quiet start to the window, the Gunners are now poised to make a series of key additions to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The club has been working for months on a deal for Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, and the long-awaited transfer is now complete. The Spanish international is expected to be officially unveiled as an Arsenal player next week in a deal worth around £55 million. Despite late interest from Real Madrid, Zubimendi opted for the Emirates, turning down the chance to remain in La Liga and instead backing Arteta’s ambitious project.
Meanwhile, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Arsenal have also sealed an agreement with Chelsea for Kepa Arrizabalaga. The 29-year-old will join the Gunners in a £5 million deal and is set to provide back-up for David Raya following Neto’s return to Bournemouth.
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Kepa, who became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he joined Chelsea for £72 million in 2018, endured a turbulent spell at Stamford Bridge but now has the opportunity to reignite his career under Arteta, albeit in a supporting role.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa Arrizabalaga (Image credit: Getty Images)
Arsenal are also closing in on a deal for Brentford captain Christian Norgaard. According toThe Athletic, the club submitted an €11 million (£9.3 million) offer on Wednesday and are confident of finalising terms soon. The 31-year-old Danish international is believed to be open to the move, with Arsenal already making plans for his medical.
Norgaard has been a vital figure for Brentford, making 196 appearances across six seasons under Thomas Frank, who has since departed for Tottenham. Although Brentford were initially reluctant to lose one of their most experienced players, Arsenal are optimistic about completing the transfer in the coming days.
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The arrival of Norgaard would fill a void in midfield as Thomas Partey prepares to leave the club. The Ghana international’s contract expires next week, and talks over an extension have broken down. The 32-year-old has drawn interest from clubs across Europe and the Middle East, including Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Juventus, and teams in Saudi Arabia.
Partey’s departure follows the exit of Jorginho, who left as a free agent to join Brazilian side Flamengo earlier this summer.
Despite these midfield and goalkeeping reinforcements, Arsenal remain focused on signing a top striker, Arteta’s top priority for the window. The Gunners have held discussions over potential deals for Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško. They also showed interest in Manchester City’s Liam Delap before the young forward joined Chelsea in a £30 million switch.
Arsenal are building for a breakthrough season after finishing second in the Premier League for a third consecutive year and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they were narrowly eliminated by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.
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