Imanol confirms Merino's move to Arsenal

Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil said goodbye on Friday to Mikel Merino, who is leaving for Arsenal, saying he was "grateful, happy and proud" of the midfielder's growth at the club, which has opened the doors to the Premier League for him.

"I am very happy, I am very proud that Mikel Merino is taking this important step, it speaks very well of Real Sociedad, of the work we have done and, above all, of him," Alguacil said at his side's pre-match press conference ahead of their game against Espanyol.

"He came at the age of 22 and he's leaving at the age of 28. He has given us performance, he has made the team grow, we have won a Copa del Rey with him, five European qualifiers, and a crazy Champions League and he leaves us thirty-odd million. This is the kind of signing we want," he added.

Real Sociedad and Arsenal have agreed to his transfer for a fee of 32 million euros plus five million euros in variables, although neither club has made it official yet. The key to this figure being lower than the previously leaked figure is that it offers greater payment facilities.