FINALLY DONE: Arsenal complete the signing of the most talented player in Europe, documents signed last night, medical today as Player set to be on stand to watch Aston Villa game tomorrow

FINALLY DONE: Arsenal has finalised the purchase of the most gifted player in Europe. The player had his medical today and signed his papers last night. He will be on standby to watch Aston Villa play tomorrow.

After reaching a consensus in talks, Arsenal decided to pay €37 million to acquire Mikel Merino, a top target in the midfield.
Arsenal and Real Sociedad have completed a deal for Mikel Merino, a midfield player, according to Fabrizio Romano. After intense negotiations between the two teams, the Gunners agreed to pay €37 million, including add-ons, for the 28-year-old midfield target.

Mikel Merino’s fee is agreed upon by Arsenal.
The Mikel Merino transfer saga felt like the longest they had experienced in a long time, as Arsenal supporters will attest. Since the Euros concluded more than a month ago, Mikel Arteta has been rumoured to be interested in the midfield player.

It is reported that the Gunners have had extensive discussions with Jokin Aperribay, the president of Real Sociedad. With one year remaining on his contract, the Spaniards held out for a fee close to €40 million for the midfield player, and they rejected an earlier offer said to be in the neighbourhood of €30 million.

As negotiations progressed between the two parties, Merino’s camp had remained sanguine about the move. Merino may have even turned down offers from other teams, as the 28-year-old was reportedly approached by Barcelona and Atletico Madrid about joining Arsenal. Aperribay was apparently notified about Merino’s wish to join Arsenal.

It was reported that an agreement may be reached on Thursday, and it has already happened since Arsenal has consented to pay a sum of €37 million, which includes bonuses. Thanks to excellent payment arrangements agreed upon with Sociedad, the Gunners will pay €32 million in fixed costs and an additional €5 million in add-ons.

Merino is essential to Arteta’s schemes.
Since Granit Xhaka left Arsenal last summer, the midfield has been lacking something, and Merino fills that void. With a ranking of first in the top five leagues in Europe, the 28-year-old Spaniard has a tendency to win duels. In addition, he adds great height and strength to an enormous Gunners midfield.

His defensive awareness and capacity to play the box-to-box role make him an essential part of Arteta’s preferred midfielder formation. Players like Merino can perhaps carry Arsenal over the finish line in a game of marginal advantages, if they aim to contend for the Premier League crown again next season.