Martín Zubimendi

Martín Zubimendi Ibáñez (born 2 February 1999) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the Spain national team. Zubimendi began his career at Real Sociedad, making his first-team debut in 2019. He made over 200 appearances and won the 2019–20 Copa del Rey with the club. In July 2025, he signed for Arsenal for a reported initial fee of £55.8m. Zubimendi made his senior debut for Spain in 2021, having previously represented them at various youth levels. He was part of Spain's victorious squad in UEFA Euro 2024, as well as the 2025 UEFA Nations League Finals.

Infobox

2016

Spain U17

2017

Spain U19

2021

Spain U23

Full name

Martín Zubimendi Ibáñez

Date of birth

(1999-02-02) 2 February 1999 (age 26)

Place of birth

San Sebastián, Spain

Height

1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)

Position

Defensive midfielder

Current team

Arsenal

Number

2006–2011

Antiguoko

2011–2016

Real Sociedad

2011–2013

→ Antiguoko (loan)

Years

Team

2016–2018

Real Sociedad C

2017–2020

Real Sociedad B

2019–2025

Real Sociedad

2025–

Arsenal

2020–2021

Spain U21

2021–

Spain

Tables

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition · Career statistics › Club

Division

Club

Division

Season

Apps

League

Goals

League

Apps

League

Goals

National cup

Apps

National cup

Goals

League cup

Apps

League cup

Goals

Europe

Apps

Europe

Goals

Other

Apps

Other

Goals

Real Sociedad B

Club

Real Sociedad B

Season

2016–17

League

Segunda División B

League

National cup

—

National cup

—

League cup

—

League cup

—

Europe

2017–18

Club

2017–18

Season

Segunda División B

League

—

National cup

—

National cup

—

League cup

—

League cup

Europe

2018–19

Club

2018–19

Season

Segunda División B

League

—

National cup

—

National cup

—

League cup

—

League cup

Europe

2019–20

Club

2019–20

Season

Segunda División B

League

—

National cup

—

National cup

—

League cup

—

League cup

Europe

Total

Club

Total

Season

League

—

League

—

National cup

—

National cup

—

League cup

Real Sociedad

Club

Real Sociedad

Season

2018–19

League

La Liga

League

National cup

League cup

—

League cup

—

Europe

—

Europe

Other

2019–20

Club

2019–20

Season

La Liga

League

National cup

—

League cup

—

League cup

—

Europe

2020–21

Club

2020–21

Season

La Liga

League

National cup

—

League cup

Europe

Other

2021–22

Club

2021–22

Season

La Liga

League

National cup

—

League cup

Europe

—

Europe

Other

2022–23

Club

2022–23

Season

La Liga

League

National cup

—

League cup

Europe

—

Europe

Other

2023–24

Club

2023–24

Season

La Liga

League

National cup

—

League cup

Europe

—

Europe

Other

2024–25

Club

2024–25

Season

La Liga

League

National cup

—

League cup

Europe

—

Europe

Other

Total

Club

Total

Season

180

League

National cup

—

National cup

League cup

Europe

236

Other

Arsenal

Club

Arsenal

Season

2025–26

League

Premier League

League

National cup

League cup

Europe

Other

—

Other

Total

Career total

Club

Career total

Season

245

League

National cup

League cup

Europe

Other

305

Other

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Europe		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Real Sociedad B	2016–17	Segunda División B	3	0	—		—		—		—		3	0
	2017–18	Segunda División B	2	0	—		—		—		—		2	0
	2018–19	Segunda División B	20	1	—		—		—		—		20	1
	2019–20	Segunda División B	25	3	—		—		—		—		25	3
	Total		50	4	—		—		—		—		50	4
Real Sociedad	2018–19	La Liga	1	0	0	0	—		—		—		1	0
	2019–20	La Liga	9	0	1	0	—		—		—		10	0
	2020–21	La Liga	31	0	2	0	—		7	0	1	0	41	0
	2021–22	La Liga	36	2	4	0	—		7	1	—		47	3
	2022–23	La Liga	36	1	4	0	—		4	0	—		44	1
	2023–24	La Liga	31	4	6	0	—		8	0	—		45	4
	2024–25	La Liga	36	2	4	0	—		8	0	—		48	2
	Total		180	9	21	0	—		34	1	1	0	236	10
Arsenal	2025–26	Premier League	15	2	0	0	0	0	4	0	—		19	2
Career total			245	15	21	0	0	0	38	1	1	0	305	16

Appearances and goals by national team and year · Career statistics › International

Spain

National team

Spain

Year

2021

Apps

Goals

2023

National team

2023

Year

Apps

2024

National team

2024

Year

Apps

2025

National team

2025

Year

Apps

Total

National team

Total

Year

Apps

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Spain	2021	1	0
	2023	3	0
	2024	11	1
	2025	9	2
Total		24	3

List of international goals scored by Martín Zubimendi · Career statistics › International

No.

Date

12 October 2024

Venue

Estadio Nueva Condomina, Murcia, Spain

Cap

Opponent

Denmark

Score

1–0

Result

1–0

Competition

2024–25 UEFA Nations League A

No.

Date

8 June 2025

Venue

Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany

Cap

Opponent

Portugal

Score

1–0

Result

2–2 (a.e.t.)(3–5 p)

Competition

2025 UEFA Nations League Finals

No.

Date

15 November 2025

Venue

Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia

Cap

Opponent

Georgia

Score

2–0

Result

4–0

Competition

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	12 October 2024	Estadio Nueva Condomina, Murcia, Spain	13	Denmark	1–0	1–0	2024–25 UEFA Nations League A
2	8 June 2025	Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany	19	Portugal	1–0	2–2 (a.e.t.)(3–5 p)	2025 UEFA Nations League Finals
3	15 November 2025	Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia	24	Georgia	2–0	4–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

References

Includes Copa del Rey, FA Cup
Includes EFL Cup
Appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021)
Appearances in UEFA Europa League
Appearance in Supercopa de España
Appearances in UEFA Champions League
"Squad List: Men's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020: Spain (ESP)"
https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce4/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf
"Martín Zubimendi"
https://www.realsociedad.eus/en/team/player/real-sociedad/martin-zubimendi-ibanez
"Zubimendi llega para quedarse"
https://cadenaser.com/emisora/2020/06/26/radio_san_sebastian/1593182504_401676.html
"Ten players who will play in the upcoming Cup finals at La Cartuja have in common having participated in the Donosti Cup!"
https://www.donosticup.com/en/ten-players-who-will-play-upcoming-cup-finals-cartuja-have-common-having-participated-donosti-cup
"La Real renueva a Martín Zubimendi hasta 2022"
https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/real-sociedad/20180725/451101213696/la-real-renueva-a-martin-zubimendi-hasta-2022.html
"La Real respira y complica la Champions al Getafe"
https://as.com/futbol/2019/04/28/primera/1556471966_052236.html
"Until 2025"
https://www.realsociedad.eus/en/news/details/until-2025
"Un sueño que se esfuma"
https://www.marca.com/futbol/europa-league/r-sociedad-vs-leipzig/cronica/2022/02/24/6217c1f2e2704e089d8b45c0.html
"La Real record another victory"
https://www.realsociedad.eus/en/news/details/la-real-record-another-victory
"Real Sociedad confirm Martin Zubimendi extension until 2027"
https://www.football-espana.net/2022/10/15/real-sociedad-confirm-martin-zubimendi-extension-until-2027
"Real Sociedad midfielder Zubimendi: So proud to play Champions League in my hometown"
https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/real-sociedad-midfielder-zubimendi-so-proud-to-play-champions-league-in-my-hometown-4470888
Arsenal F.C
https://www.arsenal.com/news/martin-zubimendi-signs-arsenal
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6439762/2025/07/06/martin-zubimendi-arsenal-transfer-news/
"Calafiori strikes after goalkeeper's error as Arsenal grind to win at Manchester United"
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/17/manchester-united-arsenal-premier-league-match-report
"Martín Zubimendi's zest a bitter pill for Postecoglou as Arsenal batter Forest"
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/sep/13/arsenal-nottingham-forest-premier-league-match-report
"Zubimendi wins Guinness Goal of the Month"
https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4437285/zubimendi-wins-guinness-goal-of-the-month
Arsenal.com
https://www.arsenal.com/news/help-martin-zubimendi-win-pl-player-month
"España Sub-19 ofrece una buena imagen ante Portugal"
http://www.futboljuvenil.es/espana-sub-19-ofrece-una-buena-imagen-ante-portugal/
Royal Spanish Football Federation
https://sefutbol.com/oficial-lista-convocados-encuentro-lituania
MARCA
https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/espana-vs-lituania/cronica/2021/06/08/60bfd85222601dc65d8b458f.html
"Official | Final Spain squad for the Euro 2024 finals"
https://rfef.es/en/noticias/final-spain-squad-for-the-euro-2024-finals
UEFA
https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/news/028f-1b5e5c2b7b67-d5faab9be20b-1000--spain-2-1-england-late-oyarzabal-winner-earns-la-roja-reco/
"Real Sociedad's Martín Zubimendi: 'Xabi Alonso is an idol, a role model'"
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/sep/08/real-sociedad-martin-zubimendi-xabi-alonso-manchester-united
"Martín Zubimendi: The Real Sociedad Midfielder Finding Stardom in Simplicity"
https://theanalyst.com/eu/2022/10/zubimendi-the-real-sociedad-midfielder-finding-stardom-in-simplicity/
"Martin Zubimendi is the Gen-Z Sergio Busquets at the heart of Real Sociedad's midfield"
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4600543/2023/06/13/martin-zubimendi-is-the-calm-and-methodical-heart-of-real-sociedads-midfield/
Martín Zubimendi at BDFutbol
https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j22483.html
EU-Football.info
https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=31572
AS.com
https://en.as.com/en/2021/04/03/football/1617473340_092105.html
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/03/athletic-bilbao-real-sociedad-copa-del-rey-2020-final-match-report
UEFA
https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/2036211--spain-vs-england/
BBC Sport
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65944659
UEFA.com
https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/match/2044949--portugal-vs-spain/
Arsenal F.C
https://www.arsenal.com/news/zubimendi-wins-emirates-goal-month
Premier League
https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4437285/zubimendi-wins-guinness-goal-of-the-month