 Zubimendi playing forSpain in 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Martín Zubimendi Ibáñez[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1999-02-02)2 February 1999 (age 27)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | San Sebastián, Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Arsenal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 36 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2011 | Antiguoko | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2016 | Real Sociedad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | →Antiguoko (loan) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | Real Sociedad C | 26 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2020 | Real Sociedad B | 50 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2025 | Real Sociedad | 180 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Arsenal | 26 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Spain U17 | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Spain U19 | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Spain U21 | 7 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Spain U23 | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021– | Spain | 24 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:10, 12 February 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:08, 14 October 2025 (UTC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Martín Zubimendi Ibáñez (born 2 February 1999) is a Spanish professionalfootballer who plays as adefensive midfielder forPremier League clubArsenal and theSpain national team.
Zubimendi began his career atReal Sociedad, making his first-team debut in 2019. He made over 200 appearances and won the2019–20 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 forSpain in 2021, having previously represented them at various youth levels. He was part of Spain's victorious squad inUEFA Euro 2024, as well as the2025 UEFA Nations League Finals.
Born inSan Sebastián,Gipuzkoa,Basque Country, Zubimendi joinedReal Sociedad's youth setup in 2011.[3] He had also played forAntiguoko in the Donosti Cup between 2006 and 2013.[4] He made his senior debut withReal Sociedad C on 27 August 2016, playing the last seven minutes in a 0–0Tercera División home draw againstDurango.[citation needed]
On 25 July 2018, Zubimendi renewed his contract until 2022, and was definitely promoted tothe reserves inSegunda División B.[5] The following 28 April, he made his first team – andLa Liga – debut, coming on as a latesubstitute forRubén Pardo in a 2–1 home win overGetafe.[6] On 24 July 2020, he renewed his contract with theTxuri-urdin until 2025, being definitively promoted to the main squad.[7]
On 24 February 2022, Zubimendi scored his first goal in European competitions in a 3–1 home defeat againstRB Leipzig during theEuropa League knockout round play-offs.[8] A month later, on 13 March, he scored his first La Liga goal in a 1–0 victory overAlavés.[9] In October, he extended his contract with the club until 2027.[10] On 20 September 2023, he made hisChampions League debut in a 1–1 draw againstInter Milan.[11]
On 6 July 2025, Zubimendi signed forArsenal on a long-term contract in a deal reportedly worth around €65m (£55.8m).[12][13] On 17 August, he made his debut for the club in a 1–0 win againstManchester United in the league.[14] On 13 September, he netted his first goals by scoring a brace in a 3–0 victory overNottingham Forest.[15] His first goal in that game would go on to win thePremier League Goal of the Month award for September 2025.[16] For his performances in September, Zubimendi was nominated for thePremier League Player of the Month award.[17] On 7 February 2026, Zubimendi scored his sixth Arsenal goal againstSunderland.
Zubimendi represented theSpain under-19s in afriendly 2–1 loss to thePortugal under-19s on 15 November 2017.[18]
Due to the isolation of some national team players following the positiveCOVID-19 test ofSergio Busquets, Spain's under-21 squad were called up for the international friendly againstLithuania on 8 June 2021.[19] Zubimendi made his senior debut in the match.[20]
On 7 June 2024, he was selected in the 26-man squad forUEFA Euro 2024.[21] On 15 June, he made his first appearance in the Euros againstCroatia as a substitute. He went on to play the full match againstAlbania on 24 June, and came off the bench in both the semi-final victory overFrance on 9 July and inthe final againstEngland on 14 July as Spain won the tournament.[22]
Zubimendi's versatile style of play draws comparisons to renowned players, notablySergio Busquets. He showcases composure and control, guiding plays and adjusting the game's tempo. His role involves initiating plays from deep positions, displaying precise decision-making. Zubimendi's aptitude for receiving passes and creating space is reminiscent of Busquets, reflecting a deep understanding of the game and the art of crafting opportunities. Additionally, his technical abilities, including dribbling and deep runs, align with top midfielders, while his ball retention in tight spaces mirrors qualities seen in players likeXabi Alonso andDavid Silva.[23][24][25]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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[c] | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||||
| 2020–21 | La Liga | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 7[d] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | La Liga | 36 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 7[d] | 1 | — | 47 | 3 | |||
| 2022–23 | La Liga | 36 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 4[d] | 0 | — | 44 | 1 | |||
| 2023–24 | La Liga | 31 | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | 8[f] | 0 | — | 45 | 4 | |||
| 2024–25 | La Liga | 36 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 8[d] | 0 | — | 48 | 2 | |||
| Total | 180 | 9 | 21 | 0 | — | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 236 | 10 | |||
| Arsenal | 2025–26 | Premier League | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6[f] | 0 | — | 35 | 6 | |
| Career total | 256 | 18 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 321 | 20 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | |
| Total | 24 | 3 | |
| 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.) (3–5p) | 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 |
Real Sociedad
Spain U23
Spain
Individual
Spain squads | |||||||||||||
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