Arsenal Close in on Gabriel Contract Extension Following Zubimendi Breakthrough
Arsenal are wasting no time in reshaping their squad for the 2025/26 season, with Martin Zubimendi’s imminent arrival from Real Sociedad set to kick off a busy summer of transfer and contract activity under manager Mikel Arteta and newly appointed sporting director Andrea Berta.
The Gunners have reportedly agreed a £51 million fee to bring Zubimendi to the Emirates Stadium, with the Spanish midfielder understood to have flown in for a medical earlier this week. Despite late efforts by La Real to convince the 25-year-old to stay in San Sebastián, the allure of the Premier League and a reunion with former teammate Martin Ødegaard appears to have swayed the midfielder’s decision.
Zubimendi’s arrival will add technical depth and defensive assurance to the midfield pivot—filling a gap that Arteta has been eager to address following the inconsistencies in availability for Thomas Partey and the age-related decline of Jorginho.
Gabriel Extension Now a Priority
With Zubimendi’s signing nearly wrapped up, Arsenal have swiftly shifted focus toward securing the future of one of their most crucial defensive assets: Gabriel Magalhães.
The Brazilian centre-back, who has formed one of the most formidable partnerships in the Premier League alongside William Saliba, is under contract until 2027. However, Arsenal are keen to reward him with improved terms and extend the deal to ensure long-term stability at the back.
According to BBC Sport, negotiations are now at an advanced stage, and the club is confident an agreement will be finalised before pre-season begins.
This proactive approach is also a signal of Arsenal’s intent to avoid the contract sagas of years past. With Saliba’s own deal set to expire in 2027 and attracting attention from Real Madrid, the Gunners are eager to prevent a scenario where both key defenders enter the final stages of their deals simultaneously.
Saliba and Madrid: A Developing Situation
Madrid’s interest in Saliba is no secret, though their recent acquisition of Dean Huijsen—a highly rated defender from Juventus—could reduce the immediate pressure. Still, Arsenal know that elite performances from Saliba on the domestic and European stage have drawn admiring glances from the continent’s biggest clubs.
Retaining both Saliba and Gabriel would be seen as a major win for Arsenal, particularly given the latter’s strong form prior to a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the crucial end-of-season run-in, including the Champions League semi-finals.
Attacking Reinforcements on the Agenda
Arteta is not only looking to strengthen in midfield and defence but also revamp the attack, which struggled at times due to injuries, inconsistency, and lack of cutting edge in the final third.
While Nicolas Pépé has long since been moved on and Gabriel Jesus continues to battle fitness concerns, Arsenal are actively pursuing a new striker to spearhead their title challenge. Benjamin Šeško and Viktor Gyökeres are believed to be among the club’s top targets, though Alexander Isak’s name remains in the mix—despite Newcastle United’s recent Champions League qualification complicating matters.
Šeško, in particular, is attracting strong interest across Europe after a breakout season at RB Leipzig, while Gyökeres is coming off a prolific campaign with Sporting CP in Portugal.
Arteta: “Believe me, we are on it.”
Speaking after Arsenal’s final Premier League game of the season, Arteta remained coy but optimistic about what lies ahead:
“We’ll have enough time in the next few days to discuss the topics that you are probably suspecting, and we’ll do it in the right environment. Today was just about the game.”
When pressed about plans to strengthen the forward line, the Spaniard offered reassurance:
“In order to achieve that, a lot of things have to happen. The team has to provide, that player has to play a certain amount of minutes and games. Believe me, we are on it. We will try to squeeze and think and turn every stone that we possibly can, to make this club even more successful.”
Andrea Berta’s Era Begins
This transfer window also marks the first major move under Andrea Berta, the highly respected sporting director formerly of Atlético Madrid. Known for his ability to find undervalued talent and make high-level strategic decisions, Berta’s involvement is already being felt with the swift pursuit of Zubimendi and contract clarity surrounding Gabriel.
If Arsenal can complete the Brazilian’s extension and add firepower up front before pre-season, they’ll go into the new campaign better equipped than ever to challenge Manchester City and Liverpool for the title.
Arsenal Close in on Gabriel Contract Extension Following Zubimendi Breakthrough