Xabi Alonso_v5
Martin Zubimendi Chelsea transfer: GOAL reports that Arsenal have put a €90 million, or £77 million, price tag on Martin Zubimendi after his standing in Mikel Arteta’s midfield suddenly came under threat. The trigger is Bruno Guimaraes.
Martin Zubimendi Chelsea transfer takes £77m twist
Arsenal have reportedly paid £75 million for the Newcastle captain, following the arrivals of Christos Tzolis and Illan Meslier, and his signing could leave Zubimendi fighting for minutes rather than walking straight into the team.
Mundo Deportivo describes the Spaniard’s position as precarious after a dip in form late last season. Arteta reportedly left him out of the starting line-up for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, while Jamie Carragher has questioned whether he can win back his regular place.
Interest is building elsewhere. Real Madrid reportedly see Zubimendi as an option after failing to land Rodri, while Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso wants to bring a familiar face to Stamford Bridge after previously coaching him at Real Sociedad B.
Arsenal’s £77 million valuation makes plenty of sense to me. Zubimendi joined from Real Sociedad for £55.8 million and then became a key figure during a remarkable debut campaign, playing 57 matches as Arsenal won their first Premier League title since 2004 and reached the Champions League final.
His league output backs that up. Across 38 Premier League appearances, including 34 starts, the 27-year-old scored five goals and registered one assist. He completed the season with a 90% passing accuracy, 99 clearances and 16 clean sheets. Those figures don’t describe a player Arsenal should be desperate to dump after one tiring spell.
Fatigue clearly caught up with him, particularly after such a heavy workload. Yet Spain’s 2026 World Cup success has only strengthened Arsenal’s hand, and the Guimaraes deal gives them every reason to demand serious money.
Chelsea should seriously consider paying it if Alonso genuinely wants him. £77 million sounds painful, especially after one season in England, but Zubimendi already knows the league, understands Alonso’s methods and offers the sort of calm, press-resistant control Chelsea have lacked in key moments.
Their absence from European competition could even work in his favour. After 57 appearances last season, a lighter schedule would give him room to recover while becoming the central organiser in Alonso’s midfield.
Chelsea would be buying more than reputation. They would get a Premier League champion, a World Cup winner and a player whose numbers show real defensive and technical output. Arsenal, meanwhile, would charge a London rival heavily for a player they don’t need to sell cheaply. At £77 million, there is no bargain here. But there isn’t much guesswork either.