Mikel Arteta has been accused of derailing Liverpool’s bid for Martin Zubimendi, who ended up joining Arsenal after unexpectedly rejecting a move to Anfield last year
Mikel Arteta may have cost Liverpool a major signing(Image: Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher has no doubt that Mikel Arteta beat Liverpool to the punch in signing Martin Zubimendi.
The Spanish star, unveiled as an Arsenal player this summer, came within touching distance of joining Liverpool just last year. Back then, the Reds had agreed a £51million deal with Real Sociedad and reached an agreement on personal terms.
Everything was in place – until Zubimendi abruptly pulled the plug at the eleventh hour. Publicly, he credited loyalty to Real Sociedad for his decision. Carragher, however, remains unconvinced, believing Arteta may have been working in the background to influence him toward Arsenal.
“I’m convinced now that Arteta stole him from Liverpool,” Carragher said on the Stick to Football podcast. “He’d agreed to come to Liverpool. He said he was coming – and at the last minute he said, ‘I don’t want to come. I’ll have another year [at Sociedad].’
“Arteta’s from the Basque area. There’s no doubt he’s been into him and said, ‘We’re signing [Mikel] Merino this season, we’ll come for you next season.’
“The deal was done about halfway through the season. He definitely stopped [Liverpool’s] deal. That’s why Zubimendi didn’t go to Liverpool. I think Arteta got into him.”
Martin Zubimendi nearly joined Liverpool in 2024, but ended up signing for Arsenal instead(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arteta is a native of San Sebastian – the same city as Real Sociedad – and even played for the club briefly after leaving Rangers in 2004 before switching to Everton half a year later. Fast-forward to late 2024 and he was reportedly collaborating quietly with the Basque club to arrange a £55m transfer for Zubimendi.
The move was made official in July, and Zubimendi is now poised to feature alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, a trio tipped to be among the strongest in the Premier League.
For Liverpool, missing out on Zubimendi marked the low point of an otherwise muted summer transfer window. They only made one major signing, Federico Chiesa, who endured a season with limited minutes.
Despite this, Arne Slot led his team to the Premier League title, finishing 10 points above Arsenal and delivering Liverpool’s 20th league championship.
Arteta is looking to overhaul Arne Slot’s Reds this season and finally end Arsenal’s long wait for a league title(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Heading in the 2025/26 season, Arsenal are looking to bridge the gap, though Liverpool’s aggressive recruitment drive – with nearly £300m spent on talents like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike, plus potential moves for Marc Guehi, Giovanni Leoni, and Alexander Isak – ensures they remain formidable opponents.
That said, their season got off to a disappointing start: a penalty shootout loss to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield after a 2-2 draw. Goals from new signings Ekitike and Frimpong, alongside a standout showing from Wirtz, hinted at the potential in Slot’s reshaped squad – though it’s clear that one or two tactical kinks need to be ironed out.
Arsenal, meanwhile, kick off their Premier League campaign with a tough away trip against Manchester United on Sunday.