Martin Zubimendi instantly takes teammate’s unusual shirt number as £55m Arsenal move finally completed

Arsenal have finally announced the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad on a long-term contract.

The Spain midfielder has become the Gunners’ second summer signing after following compatriot Kepa Arrizabalaga to the Emirates.

The 26-year-old, who rejected a move to Liverpool 12 months ago, has now put pen to paper on a £55million switch to north London.

The 26-year-old told the club’s website: “This is a huge moment in my career. It’s the move I was looking for and one I wanted to make.

“As soon as you set foot here, you realise how big this club and this team are.

“I set my sights on Arsenal because their style of play is a good fit for me.

“They have shown their potential recently and the best is yet to come.”

Arsenal’s talks to sign Zubimendi were already at an advanced stage all the way back in January.

Mikel Arteta had been looking at the Real Sociedad star for over a year, and had a request to bring him to the club in January rebuffed.

Arteta added: “Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team. He will fit in really well and he has all the attributes to be a key player for us.

“The standard he has consistently performed at over the last few seasons for both club and country is exactly why we are so excited to have him with us. We all welcome Martin and his family to the club.”

Arsenal have confirmed Zubimendi will wear the number 36 shirt, his first Sociedad shirt when he broke into the team as a youngster.

In recent years, he has also donned the No.3 and No.4 jerseys, the latter of which is currently occupied by Ben White.

But despite the number three shirt vacant following Kieran Tierney’s exit, Zubimendi instead opted to reunite with the No.36 instead.

That was Tommy Setford’s shirt, who Arsenal revealed in May had been given a permanent place in the first-team dressing room.

The goalkeeper joined the Gunners from Ajax Under-18s last July, and within weeks was named on the bench for the 1-1 Premier League draw at home to Brighton following Aaron Ramsdale’s departure to Southampton.

He made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup in October, keeping a clean sheet in the club’s 3-0 win away to Preston North End.

Setford, who spent the majority of last season in the under-21s and U19s, was also on the bench for Arteta’s men in all of their Champions League fixtures.

He started for England at the U19s Euros last month, playing all three games as the Young Lions finished third in Group B.

It is yet to be announced what his new number for Arsenal will be upon his return, with Zubimendi the 11th player to take the No.36.

Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez most famously held the shirt, alongside AC Milan’s Ismael Bennacer, in the past.

Thomas Cruise, Mark Randall, Johan Djourou, John Halls, Jermaine Pennant, Brian McGovern and Jehad Muntasser all held the shirt as well.