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Full Name |
Mikel Merino Zazon |
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Date of Birth |
June 22, 1996 |
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Age (2026) |
29 years old |
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Place of Birth |
Pamplona, Navarre, Spain |
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Nationality |
Spanish |
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Height |
1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) |
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Position |
Central Midfielder / Defensive Midfielder |
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Current Club |
Arsenal FC (Premier League) |
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Jersey Number |
#23 |
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Contract Expires |
June 30, 2028 |
|
Wife |
Lola Liberal (married June 1, 2024) |
|
Father |
Angel Merino (former footballer and manager) |
|
Mother |
Maite Zazon Fuertes (former basketball player) |
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Siblings |
Jon Merino, Unai Merino |
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Weekly Salary |
Approximately £130,000 |
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Annual Salary |
Approximately £6.7 million |
|
Net Worth (2026) |
$39 million to $43 million (Icon Polls estimate) |
|
Transfer Fee to Arsenal |
£31.6 million (August 2024) |
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Current Market Value |
Approximately £26 million (Euro) |
|
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@mikelmerino |
Mikel Merino Net Worth and Salary in 2026
Over his career, Mikel Merino has amassed significant wealth. At Arsenal, he makes about £130,000 a week, or about £6.7 million annually before bonuses and endorsement revenue. After accounting for his career earnings, signing bonuses, sponsorship deals, and investments accumulated over time, Icon Polls projects his net worth in 2026 to be between $39 million and $43 million.
Some people may be surprised by that figure, but it makes sense if you look at his career. Before joining Arsenal, he played for teams including Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United, and Real Sociedad. He has been on professional contracts since 2014. There was a cash boost with every relocation. In particular, he received consistency and a good income over the course of six complete seasons with Sociedad. The Arsenal agreement, which included a transfer cost of up to £31.6 million, also demonstrated how much his stock had increased.
Merino's total wealth has increased due to brand alliances and ambassador contracts with big clubs and sportswear companies, in addition to his football salaries. When it comes to public spending, he is not the ostentatious sort, yet the figures silently add up.
Mikel Merino's Wife
Like her husband, Lola Liberal is from Navarre. In addition to being a model and blogger, she has an Instagram account where she posts pictures of her travels, fashion, and moments from her life with Merino. Although she keeps many personal details private and is not a public personality in the conventional sense, she has been transparent about their relationship in her social media posts throughout the years.
In 2019, the couple began dating. When Lola shared a picture of the two of them during a summer vacation in Greece, their friendship went viral. Before getting married, they dated for five years. They are childless as of 2026. Lola has been outspoken in her support of Merino, especially during his Euro 2024 campaign with Spain, and the two seem to be quite close.
Mikel Merino's Parents
Before retiring to concentrate on her family, his mother, Maite Zazon Fuertes, played basketball. Mikel's identity is heavily influenced by his athletic heritage on both sides of his family. He was raised in a home that valued discipline, sports, and high-level performance.
Jon Merino and Unai Merino are his two brothers. According to Merino's interviews, the family is still quite close-knit and comes from Pamplona in the Navarre region of northern Spain.
Mikel Merino's Nationality and Background
Spanish is Mikel Merino. The capital of Navarre, a region in northern Spain renowned for its cultural customs, notably the well-known Running of the Bulls celebration, is Pamplona, where he was born and bred. Merino has always represented Spain internationally, even though he spent time in Germany and England during his career.
He came through the Spanish youth system and scored goals for Spain in the 2015 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. In 2019, he also took home the Under-21 European Championship title. In 2020, he made his senior debut against Germany. Since then, he has established himself as a regular member of the national team and was a member of the side that won Euro 2024. In the quarterfinals, he scored a spectacular header against Germany in extra time, which made him famous among many casual fans worldwide.
For Merino, the relationship with Spain extends beyond football. He has talked about how growing up in Pamplona influenced him as a person and how proud he is to serve his nation. In 2024, he married his Navarre-born bride.
Mikel Merino Transfer Value and Career Moves
In August 2024, Merino signed a contract with Arsenal for up to £31.6 million, including £27.4 million up front and an extra £4.2 million in add-ons. He agreed to a four-year contract with a fifth-year option, which means he will be with the team until at least June 2028.
His transfer history reveals a player who developed his reputation gradually. In 2016, he moved from Osasuna to Borussia Dortmund for about £7 million. In 2018, he transferred from Dortmund to Newcastle United for about £9 million. He made an impression at Newcastle, but he really found his calling at Real Sociedad, where he spent six seasons after joining for about £12 million in 2018.
Based on his age, length of contract, and form, Icon Polls estimates his current market value to be around £26 million. Even though he is nearing the end of his prime, his adaptability makes him a useful and important asset for Arsenal. During the 2024–2025 season, Mikel Arteta used him as a center midfielder, defensive midfielder, and even a temporary striker.
Another concern is whether Arsenal would consider selling him before his contract expires. He is still a vital member of the team and has two years left on his contract as of 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mikel Merino
1. How old is Mikel Merino?
Mikel Merino was born on June 22, 1996, which makes him 29 years old in 2026.
2. Where is Mikel Merino from?
He was born and raised in Pamplona, Navarre, which is in northern Spain. He is Spanish and has always represented Spain internationally.
3. What is Mikel Merino's net worth in 2026?
Based on Icon Polls research and estimates, Mikel Merino's net worth in 2026 is believed to be between $39 million and $43 million, accounting for career earnings, signing bonuses, endorsements, and other income sources.
4. How much does Mikel Merino earn per week?
He earns approximately £130,000 per week at Arsenal, which works out to around £6.7 million per year.
5. Who is Mikel Merino's wife?
His wife is Lola Liberal. They got married on June 1, 2024, in Pamplona, Spain, after dating since 2019. Lola is a blogger and model from Navarre.
6. Do Mikel Merino and Lola Liberal have children?
As of 2026, Mikel Merino and Lola Liberal do not have any children.
7. Who are Mikel Merino's parents?
His father is Angel Merino, a former professional footballer and coach who worked with Osasuna. His mother is Maite Zazon Fuertes, who was a basketball player before retiring.
8. Does Mikel Merino have siblings?
Yes, he has two brothers named Jon Merino and Unai Merino.
9. What position does Mikel Merino play?
He primarily plays as a central midfielder or defensive midfielder. Under Arteta at Arsenal, he has also been used in attacking positions including as a makeshift centre forward.
10. Which clubs has Mikel Merino played for?
He has played for Osasuna (youth and senior), Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United, Real Sociedad, and Arsenal.
11. When did Mikel Merino join Arsenal?
He joined Arsenal on August 27, 2024, from Real Sociedad, in a deal worth up to £31.6 million.
12. How long is Mikel Merino's contract at Arsenal?
He signed a four-year deal with an option for a fifth year. His contract runs until June 2028, with Arsenal holding an additional year option.
13. What is Mikel Merino's transfer value in 2026?
His current market value is estimated at around £26 million based on age, form, and contract status. Icon Polls places this within the range of what clubs would realistically pay for him in a mid-contract transfer window.
14. Did Mikel Merino win Euro 2024?
Yes. He was part of Spain's Euro 2024 winning squad. He scored a famous extra-time header against Germany in the quarter-finals, a goal that sent Spain through and became one of the defining moments of the tournament.
15. What trophies has Mikel Merino won?
His major honours include the UEFA European Under-19 Championship (2015), the UEFA European Under-21 Championship (2019), the Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad (2020), the UEFA Euro 2024 with Spain, and the UEFA Nations League with Spain.
16. Is Mikel Merino good at duels?
Yes. In the 2023/24 season at Real Sociedad, he won more duels for possession than any other player across Europe's top five leagues, totalling 326 duels won. This was one of the main reasons Arsenal and Mikel Arteta were so keen to sign him.
17. How tall is Mikel Merino?
Mikel Merino stands at 1.89 metres, which is approximately 6 feet 2 inches. His height is one of his physical advantages, making him a threat from set pieces as well as strong in aerial duels.
18. What is Mikel Merino's Instagram handle?
His Instagram account is @mikelmerino. He is active on the platform and shares content about training, matches, and his personal life.
19. What shirt number does Mikel Merino wear at Arsenal?
He wears the number 23 shirt at Arsenal.
20. Has Mikel Merino ever played in the Bundesliga?
Yes. He joined Borussia Dortmund in 2016 and played in the Bundesliga during his time there, though he made limited appearances before moving to Newcastle United.
21. What language does Mikel Merino speak?
Merino's first language is Spanish. He also speaks English from his time in England and reportedly picked up some German during his spell at Borussia Dortmund.
22. Is Mikel Merino Spanish or Basque?
Mikel Merino is Spanish. He is from Navarre, a region in northern Spain, and he has always represented Spain at national level, not the Basque Country team.
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