Mikel Merino

Mikel Merino
Merino with Real Sociedad in 2018
Personal information
Full name Mikel Merino Zazón
Date of birth (1996-06-22) 22 June 1996
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Arsenal
Number 23
Youth career
Amigó
Osasuna
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014 Osasuna B 5 (0)
2014–2016 Osasuna 63 (5)
2016–2017 Borussia Dortmund 8 (0)
2017Newcastle United (loan) 7 (0)
2017–2018 Newcastle United 17 (1)
2018–2024 Real Sociedad 190 (20)
2024– Arsenal 28 (7)
International career
2014–2015 Spain U19 12 (1)
2016–2019 Spain U21 20 (4)
2021 Spain Olympic 6 (1)
2020– Spain 35 (4)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Spain
UEFA European Championship
Winner2024 GermanyTeam
UEFA Nations League
Winner2023 NetherlandsTeam
Runner-up2021 ItalyTeam
Runner-up2025 GermanyTeam
Olympic Games
2020 TokyoTeam
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Winner2019 ItalyTeam
Runner-up2017 PolandTeam
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Winner2015 GreeceTeam
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:15, 25 May 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:34, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

Mikel Merino Zazón (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmikel meˈɾino]; born 22 June 1996) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the Spain national team.

After starting out at Osasuna, he had short spells with Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United before signing for Real Sociedad in 2018. With the last of those clubs, he won the 2019–20 Copa del Rey and totalled 242 appearances and 27 goals. In August 2024, he joined Arsenal.

Merino represented Spain in two European Under-21 Championships, winning the 2019 edition. He made his senior debut in 2020, being selected for Euro 2024 and winning the tournament.