Arsenal have signed Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad for €32.5million (£27.4m) alongside €5m in variables. The 28-year-old has signed a four-year deal plus a club option of a further year.
Our writers — experts in transfers, tactics, data and football finance — have come together to rate this summer’s senior Premier League transfers in five categories, with each aspect given a score out of 100, to reach a total score out of 500. Hence, The Athletic 500. The ratings are explained in more detail here (not all transfers will be rated as there may be a lack of data to support an analysis).
Below is our rating for this move.
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Tactical fit — 70/100
A look at how the player fits into his new club tactically, using Sentient Sports’ bespoke tactical-fit model, explained by our tactical expert.
Merino excels defensively, averaging 7.3 ball recoveries per game, placing him in the 93rd percentile among positional peers in the top five leagues. His aggressiveness and mobility allow him to lead the midfield press.
In aerial duels, he wins six per game, ranking in the 99th percentile, making him beneficial in aerial challenges and set pieces due to his height (6ft 2in; 188cm) and leaping ability.
He can move the ball quickly and operate comfortably between the lines. Technically, he is good at shielding the ball and turning away from pressure, and he is a box-to-box athlete willing to attack the box from deeper positions.
In this league game against Real Betis in May, Merino receives a long pass and outmuscles Johnny Cardoso to win the first ball. He controls it with his chest and drives into space. He has options to play wide, pass first time or continue progressing with the ball. He chooses to drive forward and delivers a last-minute through ball, but Chadi Riad can recover and blocks the shot.
However, Merino has areas of concern. His passing completion rate is relatively low at 76.5 per cent, placing him in the 19th percentile, though he is a good short-to-mid-range passer with good releases (not holding onto the ball for too long).
He is also susceptible to miscontrols, averaging 2.1 per game, but that all could be due to his progressive style of play.
Merino could integrate into Arsenal’s 4-3-3 formation, especially in the left central-midfield position previously occupied by Xhaka. His understanding of possession-based football suits Arteta’s setup, allowing him to contribute in the left half-space. Alongside Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Martinelli, his aggressive pressing style and ground coverage would help Arsenal apply pressure high up the pitch.
As shown below, Merino’s heat map suggests increased involvement in the left-sided midfield role. Compared to previous seasons in which he appears to show a broader coverage of the midfield, he is now more focused on the left side while supporting more attacks.
If given more freedom to go forward, Merino can follow his attacking instincts, which could rejuvenate the left side of Arsenal’s attack. He can be a second-ball outlet.
Merino can also provide additional support for Martinelli. He can make underlaps to create space deep or wide for Martinelli to come inside.
He is expected to complement Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Merino’s tactical fit at Arsenal is rated at 70 due to a combination of factors. His style fits with Arsenal’s style of play, particularly in chance creation, where he has 71 per cent familiarity. However, in other areas, such as build-up and counter-pressing, there is little familiarity.
Gillian Kasirye
Season rating: 55/100
Rating the player over the course of last season, using statistics from The Athletic’s data team.
Merino had a mixed season for Real Sociedad, which began with him missing their first two La Liga matches with a calf injury. Upon returning, he started seven of their next eight games and then put in his best display of the year when scoring and assisting in a 3-1 Champions League win over Benfica. But he failed to build on it.
Merino was benched for the goalless draw with Red Bull Salzburg before playing well in a 1-1 league draw with Osasuna. This was followed by a fantastic display in a 3-0 win over Villarreal in which he scored and assisted.
This year began with an assist in a 1-1 draw with Alaves and in February he put in good shifts against Osasuna, Mallorca, and Villarreal in the league, but struggled in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain. Merino was then rested for a 3-2 league defeat to Sevilla and scored in the second leg against PSG, but a 2-1 defeat on the night resulted in a 4-1 aggregate loss. Real Sociedad also lost their Copa del Rey semi-final against Mallorca on penalties (1-1 after two legs).
Upon returning to league action, Merino scored against Cadiz and impressed in a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid but struggled in a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona. He scored in a 2-0 win over Betis before being benched for his team’s final La Liga match against Atletico Madrid. Real Sociedad ended the season in sixth, 16 points behind fourth-placed Atletico. He went on to win the Euros with Spain, but this rating takes into account his club rather than international performances.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Gaming rating: 78/100
Rating the player according to Football Manager 2024’s data across both current and potential ability.
FM 2024 has given Merino a current ability rating of 153 and a potential ability rating of 159. At 28 years old, he is likely in the middle of his peak period, so he may rise to what FM, which uses an extensive scouting network, believes is his potential while he is at Arsenal.
These scores are compared to another Arsenal midfielder, Declan Rice, who has a current ability of 176 and a potential ability of 182, so Merino is rated as some way below that. Another Arsenal midfielder, 32-year-old Jorginho, is given a current ability of 149 and a potential of 165.
In the context of other Premier League midfielders, Merino is seen at a similar level to Rodrigo Bentancur from Tottenham Hotspur, who has a current ability of 156 and a potential ability of 163. Elsewhere in the division, Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle has a current ability of 161 and a potential ability of 172.
Gillian Kasirye
Financial value rating: 72/100
A four-category summary of the player’s transfer in financial terms — and whether it makes sense for his new club
Market value — 19/25
Arsenal have captured a midfielder with Premier League experience in an area they were looking to improve upon for an initial €32.5million, which feels fair value. Emile Smith Rowe left the Emirates for Fulham for a similar price and, though he is four years younger, he lacks the experience of Merino, who is in his prime.
Squad cost — 18/25
Arsenal may still be looking for a forward and have added defender Riccardo Calafiori in a move worth up to £42million, but this outlay for Merino can be counterbalanced by the sale of Smith Rowe while further sales could also ease the squad cost of this move.
Contract sensibility — 20/25
A four-year deal is sensible for a 28-year-old, ensuring his prime years are spent at the Emirates Stadium and protecting Arsenal against a more long-term investment that could see them burdened with a player in physical decline on a sizeable contract.
Resale value — 15/25
Merino will be in his thirties by the time his contract at Arsenal ends, so the club would not be expected to make a profit. That will not bother the club, though, as he is an international player immediately capable of helping them win in domestic and European competitions.
Elias Burke
Risk or reward? 77/100
Is there a history of injury or other problems that could crop up and make this deal a bad one in retrospect? Or does the player come with a clean bill of health? Our expert takes a look.
Arsenal are seeking to take the next step in their project under Arteta and win the Premier League title. That means they need players for the here and now and 28-year-old Merino fits that bill.
The midfielder is in the prime of his career, won the Euros with Spain, and has attributes that should enable him to slot well into the Arsenal midfield. No player won more duels in Europe’s top five leagues last year, which means he should be comfortable in the Premier League.
He has been here before. He joined Newcastle on loan from Dortmund seven years ago, a deal that was swiftly made permanent under Rafa Benitez, so he should be familiar with English football. However, he didn’t hang around for long on Tyneside, but that was in part due to an untimely back injury and the pull, as a Basque player, of joining Real Sociedad.
His injury history is a little mixed, with small muscle injuries that have sidelined him only for short periods. He had a calf injury last season and a minor hamstring complaint in previous seasons. But overall, he is a reliable player. He played 45 times for Real Sociedad last season and made 43 appearances in each of the two seasons before that.
He offers a different profile to Arsenal’s current options and should adapt to the system. It’s a deal that has merit, even if there might be an adaptation period switching back from La Liga to the English top flight.
Peter Rutzler
Overall rating: 352/500
(Photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)