Arsenal have completed their first piece of summer transfer business with Andrea Berta joining as the club’s new sporting director.
The Gunners have been on the hunt for a replacement for Edu – following the Brazilian’s departure at the end of 2024 – and following lengthy contract talks, Berta has now landed in North London.
Acting as a key link between the club’s hierarchy and Mikel Arteta over transfer business will be Berta’s main role at the Emirates Stadium after similar positions at Genoa and Atletico Madrid.
Arteta has already highlighted his plans to bring in new players ahead of the 2025/26 season with a striker a key priority after another faltering Premier League title bid this season.
However, Arteta is also looking at other areas to strengthen, with the former midfielder still determined to bring in his Basque compatriot Martin Zubimendi, despite fresh interest from Real Madrid.
Arsenal had looked unopposed in the race for the Spain international – with Liverpool opting against a second offer following their failed bid last summer – but Real Madrid have entered the race as part of their long-term plan to replace Luka Modric.
As per reports from the Daily Mirror, securing the finer details of the Zubimendi deal will be Berta’s first task at Arsenal, in a key test of his ability to attract top players to England.
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The crucial back story of the talks focuses on Berta’s failure to lure Zubimendi to Atletico Madrid back in 2023 and he will need a fresh approach this time.
Arsenal are ready to activate Zubimendi’s £51m [$66m] release clause in San Sebastian, with the club confident the ‘framework of a deal’ is already in place, after months of talks with his representatives.
The Gunners could even potentially pay slightly over Zubimendi’s exit clause, to spread the cost of the deal over more favourable payment terms to avoid a risk of financial imbalance.
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