Zubimendi shuts down Real Madrid transfer talk in January

Real Madrid’s reported hunt for a new number six has hit a wall — and his name is Martin Zubimendi. The Arsenal midfielder has spoken publicly to dismiss speculation linking him with a January exit, and his words will sting for anyone at Valdebebas who was hoping to get a deal done this winter.

Zubimendi sets the record straight

Speaking to Marca via Sky Sports, the 27-year-old Spain international was refreshingly blunt about where his head is at right now:

“I haven’t wasted much energy on things outside of football. I have enough on my mind trying to win a place in the team, get more minutes and fight to win this Premier League title, which is looking good. So I haven’t thought about that or been in contact with anybody.”

He also pushed back hard against stories suggesting he is unhappy in North London:

“Yes, I’m happy. The truth is sometimes what comes out in the press surprises me too. I understand the January market is coming and rumours can appear, but I think people need to be more careful about what they publish.”

And just in case anyone was still holding out hope, he killed any lingering speculation stone dead:

“I have also read that I could be close to moving, but it’s far from the truth.”

Why Real Madrid were monitoring him

It’s easy to see why Los Blancos had been keeping tabs on the former Real Sociedad man. Madrid missed out on Ballon d’Or winner Rodri in the summer transfer window and have been on the lookout for a top-quality defensive midfielder ever since. Zubimendi fits the profile to a tee — technically accomplished, positionally intelligent, and battle-hardened in top-level football.

Arsenal brought him to the Premier League in the summer of 2025 for a fee of £60 million, and his debut campaign was exceptional. He appeared in 57 matches, racked up over 4,200 minutes on the pitch, and contributed to nine goals — playing a meaningful role in Arsenal’s Premier League title win and their run to the Champions League final.

This season, however, things look very different. Zubimendi has managed just 380 minutes across 12 appearances and has yet to start a single Premier League game. That kind of reduced involvement was always going to attract attention from clubs willing to offer him a starring role, and Real Madrid were reportedly among those circling.

A setback for Madrid, but the door isn’t permanently closed

As things stand, Zubimendi’s message is loud and clear: he’s not going anywhere in January. His priority is forcing his way back into Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup, and he sounds determined to do exactly that rather than take the easy route out.

For Real Madrid, this is a frustrating development in the short term, but the need to strengthen in the pivot position doesn’t go away. If Zubimendi’s situation at Arsenal doesn’t improve significantly, this story could have another chapter when the summer window opens. For now though, Madridistas will have to look elsewhere — or be patient.

Real Madrid among clubs chasing Arsenal's Zubimendi · More Transfer news

For official club updates, visit Real Madrid’s official website.