Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi is at the center of a legal dispute between his former clubs, Real Sociedad and Antiguoko.

Zubimendi, 26, has been a key figure for Arsenal since joining in the summer, helping the team maintain a four-point lead over second-place Bournemouth.

He has started eight of the Gunners’ first nine league games, anchoring a midfield that supports the Premier League’s best defensive record.

However, Antiguoko claims Real Sociedad owes them £870,000 following Zubimendi’s £51 million ($67 million) transfer to Arsenal.

The dispute arises from an agreement that would entitle Antiguoko to 5 percent of transfer fees up to one million euros.

Antiguoko technical director Roberto Montiel described the strained relationship with Real Sociedad.

He said, “Currently, the relationship with Real Sociedad is very bad on their part. We had an agreement with Real Sociedad until 2020. Since then, we have an agreement with Athletic Bilbao.”

Montiel added, “When Zubi signed for Real Sociedad, it was agreed that, in the event of a transfer, we would receive 5 per cent up to one million euros in return. With this behaviour, we decided not to renew the agreement with them because we felt mistreated by them.”

The midfielder spent five years at Antiguoko before moving to Real Sociedad, including a two-year loan back.

Montiel also criticized Real Sociedad’s policies affecting youth recruitment.

He said, “They are obsessed with crushing us at all levels. They want us to be more and more inferior. The Provincial Council of Guipúzcoa has put in place a law that is subject to Real Sociedad of ‘territoriality’… Any boy or girl within the periphery of San Sebastián cannot sign with us.”

He added that Real Sociedad has not paid the agreed fee and that Antiguoko has pursued the matter in court.

Montiel said the funds are critical for the academy’s investment and noted further complications with official recognition events for Zubimendi.

Despite these off-field issues, Zubimendi’s on-field performance continues to shine at Arsenal.

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