Martin Zubimendi appears to be moving towards an early Arsenal departure, with the midfielder now prepared to explore a January transfer after a difficult spell in north London. According to TeamTalk, the 27-year-old has reached an “exit decision” and several major clubs across Europe have been made aware of his situation.

Zubimendi joined Arsenal in a £60million deal in 2025 amid strong competition and significant expectation. He arrived as a player expected to anchor Mikel Arteta’s midfield for years to come. Instead, his role has diminished sharply, and the latest information suggests the Spain international now sees a move as the best route to revive his career.

January transfer picture becoming clearer

The report states that “Martin Zubimendi is ready to leave Arsenal in January in a bid to get his career back on track” and that “seven of the continent’s biggest clubs” have now been informed. There is strong interest from Spain, where Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are all said to be attentive to the opportunity.

Germany is also a live market. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have reportedly been made aware of his availability, while there has been contact in England too. Chelsea have been spoken to, and Liverpool have also been informed, although their current thinking is described as less advanced.

That point matters. Liverpool’s earlier admiration belonged to a different period and a different structure, and there is no suggestion at present that they are pushing aggressively to bring him in. The broader theme here is that Arsenal are facing a serious possibility of movement, and rival clubs know it.

Zubimendi Arsenal struggle leaves club with decision

The most striking detail in the report is how far Zubimendi’s standing has fallen. He was signed to be a first-choice option, yet he is “yet to start a Premier League game this season”. For a player of his pedigree, and for a fee of £60million, that is a major development.

Competition in midfield has intensified. The arrival of Bruno Guimaraes has altered the landscape further, while “the decision to promote Myles Lewis-Skelly ahead of him last season” underlined the shift long before this campaign gathered pace. Arsenal are understood to be aware of the player’s feelings and the possibility that he will seek a move once the window reopens.

There is also acknowledgement that any deal will need careful handling. A loan has been mentioned as one possible route, though the financial structure would need to make sense for all parties. Arsenal are not dealing with a fringe academy product here, they are trying to manage the future of a recent £60million signing whose value and reputation still carry weight across Europe.

European giants alerted as Arsenal weigh options

The wording from the report suggests Arsenal may be bracing for formal interest. It adds that Arteta could “reluctantly sanction his exit”, which gives this story extra credibility ahead of January. When a club is already considering possible frameworks, including a loan, it usually reflects an acceptance that the situation may be difficult to reverse quickly.

Zubimendi has made a “modest 67 games in Arsenal colours”, and the sense now is that both player and club are edging towards a solution that suits neither side perfectly, but may be necessary. His priority is “getting his career back on track”, and that is often the clearest signal that a transfer process is beginning to take shape.

For Arsenal, the challenge is to limit the sporting and financial damage. For Zubimendi, the next move could define the second half of his peak years. With clubs in Spain, Germany and England all alerted, this is one to watch closely as the January transfer window approaches.

Our View

This is deeply frustrating because it feels like another expensive misfire at a time when every major decision should be pushing the squad closer to titles. Spending £60million on a midfielder who is now “yet to start a Premier League game this season” is hard to defend, however the internal dynamics have changed. When a player arrives with that level of expectation, there has to be a clearer plan than this.

What makes it worse is the speed of the decline. Zubimendi was supposed to bring control, intelligence and calm in possession. Instead, the conversation has shifted to damage limitation, possible loans and which elite club might take him off our hands. That is grim. It is also a reminder that recruitment only works when the profile, system and manager’s trust all align.

If he genuinely wants out to get his career moving again, then dragging this into the summer would help nobody. Arsenal need to be ruthless and smart now. A clean sale would be ideal, though that may be difficult. If a loan is the only realistic route, it has to protect value and create a credible path to a permanent exit.

There is also a wider concern here. Midfield planning should have been a strength, yet this report raises questions about judgement and squad building. Watching top clubs circle while Arsenal absorb the loss is a painful look. The only acceptable response is to act decisively in January and ensure this mistake does not linger for another six months.