Real Madrid to hijack Arsenal’s new signing was the transfer storyline that dominated the early months of 2025 and continued to generate headlines right up until the summer window finally resolved the matter.
The tug-of-war over Martin Zubimendi became one of the most compelling recruitment battles between two of European football’s heavyweights in recent memory.
How Real Madrid Moved to Hijack Arsenal’s New Signing
Arsenal had been pursuing the Real Sociedad midfielder since January 2025, with the Daily Mail among the first outlets to report that a deal was virtually completed, with the Gunners signalling their intention to activate Zubimendi’s €60 million release clause.
Personal terms were widely reported as not expected to be an obstacle, and the widespread assumption in north London was that the Spanish international would be confirmed as an Arsenal player before the summer transfer window formally opened.
Real Madrid, however, had other ideas.
Reports from Spanish outlet Diario AS confirmed that Los Blancos had developed a strong interest in Zubimendi, identifying him as the midfielder best suited to serve under incoming head coach Xabi Alonso, who had specifically requested the player as his primary midfield target ahead of his first season in charge at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid’s motivation extended beyond simply signing a quality player, with the club simultaneously pursuing what was described as a deliberate strategy to lower the average squad age and increase the proportion of Spanish nationals in their first-team setup.
Zubimendi, as a young Spanish international with elite-level technical and defensive attributes, represented the ideal profile for both objectives at once.
The Financials and Why Real Madrid’s Hijack Attempt Ultimately Failed
The Spanish giants, however, were reluctant to match Arsenal’s willingness to pay the €60 million release clause outright.
Their preferred approach involved offering Real Sociedad the opportunity to sign one or two Real Madrid players on cost-free loan arrangements in exchange for a reduced transfer fee — a structure the La Real hierarchy was not prepared to accept on the terms proposed.
There was also the matter of personal terms, with Zubimendi reportedly set to earn significantly more at Arsenal than Real Madrid were offering, creating a financial gap that proved difficult to bridge given the player’s existing commitment to the north London club.
Zubimendi’s own preference to remain in Spain had given Real Madrid confidence entering the negotiation, but that preference was not strong enough to override the concrete financial package and sporting project Arsenal placed in front of him.
Arsenal completed the signing for a reported fee of around £51 million, and Zubimendi’s arrival was met with widespread approval among supporters who had watched the club miss out on major midfield targets in previous windows.
His debut season in the Premier League was seamless, with the Spaniard quickly establishing himself as one of the more impressive imports in the division, offering the defensive cover and composure in possession that Mikel Arteta’s system demands from a deep-lying midfielder.
For Real Madrid, the failure to secure Zubimendi was later cited by Xabi Alonso himself as a significant factor in the club’s underwhelming 2025-26 campaign, with the head coach publicly lamenting that the hierarchy had not acted decisively enough when the player was available.
The episode served as a reminder that in modern football’s transfer market, declared interest from a second elite club — no matter how persistent — can rarely overcome a combination of agreed personal terms, a higher salary offer, and a player who has already given his word.
