Martin Zubimendi: Arsenal midfielder denies Atletico move and says ‘I am happy’

Martin Zubimendi has dismissed reports that he is close to joining Atletico Madrid, insisting he expects to still be an Arsenal player in June.

The Spain midfielder, who has lost his place under Mikel Arteta, told Marca the stories were “not the case at all”. His comments, which settle the question of Zubimendi’s Arsenal future for now, were also picked up by Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday morning.

What Zubimendi said

Zubimendi was clearly frustrated by some of the coverage. “To be honest, I’m sometimes surprised by the press too,” he told Marca, as reported by Metro.

“I understand that the winter transfer window is approaching and rumours can surface, but I think we need to be a bit more careful with what we publish. Ultimately, everyone has a team they play for, and we need to respect that. I’ve also read that I might be close, but not at all.”

Asked whether he would still be at Arsenal in June, he replied: “I think so. I am happy there.”

He also spoke about the personal cost of transfer speculation. “Often a news story comes out and it seems that if it doesn’t come true, it’s quickly forgotten and nothing happens,” he said. “Sometimes I could avoid a lot of the messages I receive because of this kind of news.”

Arteta told him what was coming

Zubimendi joined from Real Sociedad for £60m in summer 2025 and played almost every game as Arsenal won the Premier League. This season he is yet to start a league game, with Arteta preferring Declan Rice and £85m summer signing Bruno Guimaraes.

He says Arteta was honest with him from the start. “I spoke with Mikel at the beginning of the season. As he does with all the players, he explained the plan to me,” he said. “He warned me that there were new signings and that there would be playing time for everyone. And here we are, fighting for it.”

He accepts the scale of the competition. “For me, we’re among the five best teams in Europe. There are some fantastic players. New signings have arrived in my position, and there were already some very good players.”

“I’m patient,” he added. “Just like last year the opposite happened to me and I played practically everything, this can change very quickly.”

Who wants him?

Atletico have been seen as frontrunners, with reports in Spain claiming a deal was close. Chelsea are also said to be considering renewing their interest, with manager Xabi Alonso reported to be an admirer.

Earlier this week we looked at the clubs monitoring Zubimendi. The Independent reported that Chelsea, Real Madrid and Atletico were all watching him, and that Arsenal would expect at least the £60m they paid. His latest words are the clearest sign yet that he is not pushing for a move.

What happens next

Arsenal have not commented on his future. If his minutes do not improve before January, the speculation will return, but for now any club hoping to sign him this winter is likely to be disappointed.

Zubimendi’s chance to force his way back in may come in Europe, where Arsenal host Borussia Dortmund on 24 November in a Champions League tie live on Amazon Prime Video. For more, follow our transfer news page.

Zubimendi Arsenal future: FAQs

Is Martin Zubimendi leaving Arsenal?
Not according to the player. He says reports of a move to Atletico Madrid are “not the case at all”, and he expects to still be at Arsenal in June.

Which clubs are interested in Zubimendi?
Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Real Madrid have all been linked.

How much did Arsenal pay for Zubimendi?
£60m to Real Sociedad in summer 2025.

Why isn’t Zubimendi playing for Arsenal?
Arteta has preferred Declan Rice and Bruno Guimaraes in midfield this season.