Mikel Merino

Mikel Merino Zazón (born 22 June 1996) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Real Sociedad 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.

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.

Osasuna
Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Merino began his career with Amigó, later moving to Osasuna. He made his senior debut with the reserves in the 2013–14 season, in the Tercera División.

On 23 August 2014, Merino made his first competitive appearance with the first team, starting in a 2–0 home win against Barcelona B in the Segunda División. He scored his first professional goal on 21 December, the winner in a 2–1 away victory over Las Palmas.

Merino was promoted to the main squad on 31 January 2015, being given the number 8 jersey. He was a regular starter in his first year, helping them to narrowly avoid relegation.

In the 2015–16 campaign, Merino scored four goals from 34 appearances as Osasuna finished sixth and reached the promotion play-offs. In that stage's first round, he netted a brace in a 3–1 home win against Gimnàstic de Tarragona, and added another goal in the second leg (3–2 victory).

Borussia Dortmund
On 15 February 2016, Merino signed a five-year deal with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, which was made effective on 1 July. His first league appearance occurred on 14 October, when he played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 home draw against Hertha BSC.

Newcastle United
In July 2017, Merino joined Newcastle United on a season-long loan; the Premier League side agreed to a clause obligating them to sign the player permanently, based on a number of appearances. On 13 October, this was invoked, and he agreed to a five-year contract.

Merino made 25 competitive appearances for the Magpies. He scored his only goal with a late header in a 1–0 win over Crystal Palace at St James' Park on 21 October 2017, also providing a sole assist.

Real Sociedad
Merino returned to Spain on 12 July 2018, signing a five-year deal with Real Sociedad for an undisclosed fee reported to be €12 million. His first match in La Liga took place on 18 August when he played 59 minutes in a 2–1 win against hosts Villarreal, and his first goal on 21 September won the game at Huesca. Despite struggling initially to adapt to his new team, also dealing with some injury problems, he eventually became a starter, scoring four times in 32 fixtures in his first season.

On 7 March 2020, Merino wore the captain's armband for the first time in a 1–0 league defeat away to Barcelona. In July, he renewed his contract until 2025.

On 3 April 2021, Merino won his first title after playing the full 90 minutes of the 2020 Copa del Rey final – delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic – against Athletic Bilbao, assisting Portu who was brought down in the box at the hour mark; Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the spot for the only goal at the Estadio de La Cartuja, and Merino was named player of the match.

In the 2023–24 campaign, Merino won the most duels for possession in Europe's top leagues at 326.

International career
Merino was part of the Spain under-19 team which won the 2015 UEFA European Championship in Greece. He scored their first goal of the tournament, opening a 3–0 win over holders Germany at the AEL FC Arena in Larissa.

On 20 August 2020, Merino received his first call up to the senior side, for the initial two matches of the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League against Germany and Ukraine. He earned his first cap against the former on 3 September by replacing Sergio Busquets early into the second half of a 1–1 draw. He scored his first goal on 12 September 2023, the second in an eventual 6–0 rout of Cyprus in a qualifier for UEFA Euro 2024 held in Granada.

Merino was included in the squad for the Euro 2024 finals. In the quarter-final against Germany in Stuttgart, he scored a header from a cross by Dani Olmo in the 119th minute to secure his nation a spot in the semi-finals with a 2–1 win; his celebration after the goal (running around the corner flag) mirrored that of his father after he had done the same for Osasuna in a UEFA Cup fixture at the same stadium in 1991. He also featured in Spain's win in the final where they defeated England 2–1, achieving a continental record of four European championships, and in the process became one of 12 players who won both youth and senior Euro titles, alongside his teammates Nacho, Ferran Torres, Álvaro Morata and Rodri.

Personal life
Merino's father, Ángel Miguel, was also a footballer. His career was also associated with Osasuna, as both a player and manager.

International

 * Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Merino goal.

Honours
Borussia Dortmund
 * DFB-Pokal: 2016–17

Real Sociedad
 * Copa del Rey: 2019–20

Spain U19
 * UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2015

Spain U21
 * UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2019; runner-up: 2017

Spain Olympic
 * Summer Olympics silver medal: 2020

Spain
 * UEFA European Championship: 2024
 * UEFA Nations League: 2022–23; runner-up: 2020–21

Individual
 * La Liga Team of the Season: 2022–23
 * La Liga Play of the Month: March 2024 (with Mikel Oyarzabal)
 * Segunda División Player of the Month: June 2016