Arsenal’s new midfield star, Martin Zubimendi, could have been wearing a Liverpool shirt right now, if not for a dramatic twist that Jamie Carragher says was caused by Mikel Arteta.
The Spanish midfielder officially joined Arsenal this summer from Real Sociedad in a £55 million deal. But according to Carragher, Zubimendi was already set to sign for Liverpool 12 months ago before Arteta allegedly stepped in behind the scenes.
Back in 2024, Liverpool had reportedly agreed a £51 million fee with Real Sociedad. Personal terms were sorted. Everything was in place for Zubimendi to head to Anfield.
Then, at the very last minute, the deal collapsed. Publicly, Zubimendi said it was because of his loyalty to Real Sociedad, the club he grew up supporting. But Carragher thinks there was a completely different reason.
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“I’m convinced now that Arteta stole him from Liverpool,” Carragher told the Stick to Football podcast.
“He’d agreed to come to Liverpool. He said he was coming, and at the last minute he said, ‘I don’t want to come. I’ll have another year at Sociedad.’”
Carragher claims that Arteta’s personal background played a big role. Arteta is from San Sebastian, the very same city as Real Sociedad, and even played for the club briefly in 2004 before leaving for Everton.
“Arteta’s from the Basque area. There’s no doubt he’s been into him and said, ‘We’re signing [Mikel] Merino this season, we’ll come for you next season.’ The deal was done halfway through the season. He definitely stopped Liverpool’s deal,” Carragher added.
If Carragher’s theory is right, Arteta may have been quietly working on Zubimendi’s transfer for months before it became public.
In July 2025, Arsenal made it official. Zubimendi signed for £55 million and is now expected to form a strong midfield trio with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, one that could challenge Liverpool’s dominance.
For Liverpool, missing out on Zubimendi was a big blow, especially as their 2024 summer transfer window was quieter than usual. The only major signing was Federico Chiesa, but the Italian forward struggled for regular playing time.
Even without Zubimendi, Liverpool had a sensational season. New manager Arne Slot guided them to the Premier League title, finishing 10 points clear of Arsenal and claiming the club’s 20th league crown.
This summer, Liverpool have gone big in the market, spending nearly £300 million on players including Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike. They are also chasing more big names such as Marc Guehi, Giovanni Leoni, and Alexander Isak.
However, the season didn’t start perfectly. Liverpool lost the Community Shield to Crystal Palace on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Goals from Ekitike and Frimpong showed promise, and Wirtz’s performance excited fans, but Slot’s new-look side still has tactical issues to fix.
Meanwhile, Arsenal and Arteta will be hoping Zubimendi proves to be the missing piece in their quest to close the gap on Liverpool. If Carragher is right, Arteta’s “quiet” work last year could be one of the most decisive transfer moves in recent football history.
Whether this was a masterstroke or just smart timing, one thing is certain: the rivalry between Arsenal and Liverpool just got even more intense.
