Martin Zubimendi’s reported willingness to consider a January departure puts Arsenal’s midfield planning in focus. The 27-year-old Spain international played a central role in last season’s title-winning campaign; now, with his minutes reduced, seven European clubs have reportedly been told he may be available.
The claim comes from a TEAMtalk report cited in BBC Sport’s gossip column. Arsenal know where Zubimendi stands and are said to be open to a winter move. A loan is one option: it could give him a run of regular football before the parties decide whether to make a permanent move next summer.
A sharp change in his Arsenal role
Zubimendi joined from Real Sociedad in July 2025 for a reported £59.5 million. The previous year, he turned down Liverpool because he believed he still had more to learn in San Sebastian. His first Arsenal season then brought 38 Premier League appearances, 34 starts and five goals. He anchored Mikel Arteta’s midfield, setting the tempo and protecting the defence.
The balance has shifted since Bruno Guimaraes arrived in the summer. Declan Rice and Guimaraes are now the preferred pairing, leaving Zubimendi as a rotation choice. His difficult outing in the 27 October cup defeat at Fleetwood Town offered a clear illustration: he started beside Myles Lewis-Skelly, struggled to impose himself, and was replaced by Guimaraes in the 82nd minute. The result reflected a poor team performance, but the substitution also showed the competition he faces.
For a player of Zubimendi’s age and international standing, sporadic starts may not be enough. Regular club football matters to his place in Spain’s squad, and a move to London was expected to bring a substantial role.
Seven clubs are reportedly tracking the situation
Sports Mole’s account of the TEAMtalk report names Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid among the clubs interested in bringing him back to La Liga. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have also reportedly been informed. The report says seven clubs in total know of his situation, though it doesn’t identify all of them.
Arsenal face a depth decision
Current team selection supports the view that Zubimendi has slipped down the pecking order. UEFA’s predicted Arsenal lineup for the visit to Slavia Praha has Rice and Guimaraes in midfield, with Martin Odegaard ahead of them. Our Prague lineup preview also leaves Zubimendi out of the starting side.
Arsenal have little incentive to disrupt a midfield that has helped put them top of the Premier League on 24 points after Sunday’s 1-0 win at Anfield, detailed in our Liverpool-Arsenal player ratings. Yet letting Zubimendi go could leave Arteta short. Rice has already had a hamstring scare this season, and the fixture list is crowded. A loan would increase the pressure on the remaining midfielders if another injury followed.
Arsenal’s defence has benefited from Saliba’s return, as discussed in our Hull City lineup preview, but midfield depth remains a separate concern. The club must weigh Zubimendi’s need for starts against the value of keeping another experienced option through the title run-in.
January will test both sides’ priorities
Arsenal are scheduled to face Slavia Praha on Wednesday 4 November before hosting Hull City on Saturday 7 November. With the January window eight weeks away, there is time for Zubimendi’s role to change. If his minutes remain limited, a loan back to Spain appears a plausible route, with a permanent decision deferred until summer. The choice will turn on whether Arsenal can offer him a meaningful role and still preserve enough cover in midfield.