Chelsea supporters have begun debating whether Martin Zubimendi would be welcomed at Stamford Bridge amid reports that the Blues are considering a move for the Arsenal midfielder.
Zubimendi joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad in 2025 for around £51m and has since established himself as an important part of Mikel Arteta’s midfield. However, Arsenal’s £75m move for former Newcastle captain Bruno Guimarães has raised questions about how the club will use its midfield options, prompting speculation that Zubimendi could eventually become available.
Chelsea’s interest is particularly intriguing because new manager Xabi Alonso is reportedly a long-standing admirer of the Spain international. Reports suggest Alonso has identified Zubimendi as a player he would like Chelsea to pursue, although there is currently no indication that a transfer has been completed.
Among Chelsea supporters online, the reaction appears to be mixed but largely positive towards the player himself. Some fans see Zubimendi as the kind of technically secure midfielder who could complement Moisés Caicedo and provide greater control in possession.
That would fit with the growing excitement around Alonso’s arrival. A recent discussion on the Chelsea subreddit summed up the mood around the new manager with the simple response: “In Xabi I trust.”
There is, however, another side to the debate. Chelsea already have significant investment in midfield, particularly with Caicedo and Enzo Fernández, and some supporters are questioning whether another expensive central midfielder should be a priority.
Chelsea fans on social media: “At least Xabi seems to have enough authority to tell them what he actually wants.” — Chelsea supporter discussing Xabi Alonso’s recruitment.
“The big Chelsea Twitter accounts have seemingly lost faith in him.” — Chelsea supporter discussing the online criticism surrounding Enzo Fernández.
“Take him out of the Chelsea team and teams will walk through their midfield.” — A supporter discussing Moisés Caicedo’s importance alongside Enzo.
“I have 0 issues with Chelsea buying Zubimendi. I would flat out prefer and encourage it. He’s the closest player to Rodri’s profile and would solidify the number 6 role for the team.” — Chelsea fan on Reddit.
“Buy him now while he’s cheap or available, because when he displaces an aging Rodri in Spain’s starting XI, he’ll be twice as expensive.” — Chelsea fan on Reddit.
“I will continue to scream this from the mountain tops, MOI DOES NOT NEED A PARTNER MORE DEFENSIVE THAN HIM! He is the defensive midfielder.” — Chelsea fan.
And another was even more sceptical about the financial side: “Unless Zumbimendi is going to cost 20m, I don’t want him.” — Chelsea fan.
The second reaction is particularly relevant to the Zubimendi discussion. Rather than simply adding another big-name player, supporters appear keen to see Chelsea recruit specifically for Alonso’s tactical requirements.
There is also a sense that Zubimendi’s Arsenal connection would make the move especially intriguing. The midfielder scored against Chelsea in Arsenal’s 2-1 Carabao Cup semi-final victory earlier in 2026, highlighting the quality that could potentially be arriving at Stamford Bridge.
Ultimately, Chelsea fans would likely welcome Zubimendi if Alonso believes he is the missing piece in midfield. The bigger question is whether the club can convince Arsenal to sell a player who has already demonstrated his quality in north London.
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