Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Xabi Alonso reportedly has his eye on Martin Zubimendi as he begins outlining his vision for Chelsea.
Chelsea have been active in the summer transfer window under Xabi Alonso, reshaping their squad with additions like Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, and Marco Palestra.
In midfield, they’ve added versatility and experience by bringing in Valentin Barco from Strasbourg alongside veteran Jordan Henderson to give Alonso more flexibility.
However, it seems as if the business isn’t done yet in the middle of midfield, as Arsenal star Martin Zubimendi has appeared on Alonso’s radar.
Martin Zubimendi is on Xabi Alonso’s radar at Chelsea
Simon Phillips has given Chelsea fans a new transfer rumour on his substack, with Martin Zubimendi the latest name on Alonso’s radar at Stamford Bridge.
“I was told by a source that Xabi Alonso is a big fan of Martin Zubimendi & has communicated to Chelsea that he’s a player he likes & is of interest to him. I’m NOT saying Chelsea are going for Zubimendi, but he is a player who’s been mentioned by Alonso.”
Arsenal would certainly be reluctant to lose Martin Zubimendi given his impact during a stellar debut season. Following his £55.8m transfer from Real Sociedad in 2025, the Spaniard slotted seamlessly into Mikel Arteta’s system, scoring five league goals and featuring in all 38 Premier League matches.
He was a regular fixture in the starting XI for most of the campaign, though Arteta occasionally managed his minutes in the closing weeks to balance a demanding Champions League run.
It’s certainly a confusing one, as Chelsea already have Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, Valentin Barco, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Jordan Henderson all battling for two midfield spots.
However, there is a long-standing interest from Chelsea in Zubimendi, even before Xabi Alonso was around, so it’s a move that the Blues would surely support.