Agent of Arsenal title winner 'pushing' for January Real Madrid exit

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Martin Zubimendi has gone from one of Arsenal's most important signings to a squad player in the space of a year — and Real Madrid are circling again.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the Spain international wants a move to the Bernabeu, with his agent urging Arsenal to sanction a swift departure so the midfielder can return to Spain. The report claims Zubimendi would like the transfer completed as early as the January window.

It is worth noting that Fichajes sit well outside the tier-one bracket occupied by the likes of David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano, so the claim should be treated with caution until corroborated by more established reporting.

From title winner to bench

Zubimendi arrived at the Emirates just over a year ago and quickly became a central figure in the side that delivered Arsenal's first league title since 2004. That alone guarantees him a place in the club's modern history.

This season has looked different. The 27-year-old has spent more time on the bench, with others ahead of him in the midfield pecking order, and Arsenal have continued to pick up results without him in the XI.

Fichajes report that the situation has left the player unhappy, with limited minutes becoming a growing concern on his side.

Real Madrid's second attempt

This is not new ground for Real Madrid. The report states that Zubimendi preferred a switch to the Spanish capital back in 2025, only for Los Blancos to stop short of a decisive move, clearing the path for Arsenal to complete the deal instead.

Now, with his situation in north London changed, Madrid are said to be monitoring him once more and intend to revive that interest.

Arsenal's position, per the same report, is that Zubimendi remains a key player and the club have no desire to lose one of the stronger members of the squad. The Gunners are expected to resist selling mid-season, which sets up a straightforward tension: a player pushing to leave against a club that rates him highly enough to keep him.

What happens next

Mid-season sales of first-team midfielders are rare for a reason. Replacing that profile in January is difficult, and Arsenal would be weakening their own depth at the business end of a campaign in which they are defending a league title.

Equally, a frustrated player with a World Cup year's worth of ambition and a Real Madrid offer on the table is not a situation that tends to resolve itself quietly. The report suggests Arsenal will ultimately have to weigh whether keeping an unsettled Zubimendi is worth more than accepting a suitable bid.

For now, nothing concrete has emerged beyond the Spanish reporting, and Arsenal have made no public indication that the midfielder is available. The January window opens in under three months, and that is when the noise around Zubimendi's future is likely to intensify.