Martín Zubimendi

Martín Zubimendi built his reputation as Real Sociedad's metronomic defensive midfielder — a player who screens the back four, recycles possession efficiently, and rarely wastes a touch. His move to Arsenal in 2025 raised his profile after he famously turned down Liverpool the previous summer, signalling his own ambition on his own terms. For Spain, he offers the kind of positional discipline that allows more expressive teammates like Pedri to roam freely. Comfortable under pressure and composed in tight spaces, Zubimendi is the unglamorous but essential foundation beneath Spain's more celebrated attacking talent.