Arsenal Have No Plans To Sell Martin Zubimendi

Martin Zubimendi wants more playing time at Arsenal, but the club and manager Mikel Arteta have no plans to sell him in January, according to The Athletic.

The Spain midfielder has played little this season. He has logged only 100 minutes in seven Premier League appearances.

Last season he played all 38 league games and averaged 79 minutes as Arsenal won the title.

Zubimendi addressed the speculation this week. He told Marca on international duty that he had “not got in touch with anyone” about a move, and that he is trying to earn a place and playing time.

Asked whether he would stay until the end of the season, he said: “Yes, I hope so. I’m happy there.” His contract runs until June 2030.

Zubimendi said Arteta warned him at the start of the season about competition for places after the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes. He said the manager told him there would be “playing time for everyone.”

The midfielder also pointed to last season’s workload. “I was tired,” he said of the minutes he played.

Arteta has backed him publicly. Before Arsenal’s win over Slavia Prague, he called Zubimendi “a very important player for us.”

The Arsenal manager wants as deep a squad as possible, particularly in midfield, to avoid options becoming stretched later in the season. Arsenal’s position could be tested if a significant offer arrives.

Interest from other clubs has been reported. The Independent reported that Real Madrid, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are all interested, while Atletico have reportedly ruled out a January move.

Atletico winger Alex Baena has said he would “love” Zubimendi to join. Baena and Zubimendi are together on Spain duty.

Arsenal are in a strong league position. They lead the Premier League by five points from Brighton.

Zubimendi says he is focused on that title race. He described the Premier League title as “looking so promising.”

The January window opens in seven weeks.

Zubimendi joined Arsenal in the summer of 2025, after Mikel Arteta identified him as a long-term successor to Thomas Partey.

He rejected interest from Liverpool to make the move. Arsenal activated his €60 million release clause to sign him from Real Sociedad.

He was one of Arsenal’s standout performers in his first six months. Arteta then gave Myles Lewis-Skelly a chance in central midfield with four league games remaining.

Lewis-Skelly kept his place as Arsenal won the title and reached the Champions League final. Bruno Guimaraes has since arrived, and Mikel Merino has returned to fitness. 

He is under contract until 2030, and Arseblog said Real Madrid and Chelsea have also been linked with him.