Mikel Merino departs Newcastle for Real Sociedad
Basque side Real Sociedad have signed Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino on a deal which will keep him in San Sebastian until June 2023.
Mikel Merino has left Newcastle United for Real Sociedad after just one season at St James' Park, the club have confirmed. The midfielder arrived on loan from Borussia Dortmund ahead of the 2017-18 campaign, before the Magpies exercised a clause to make the move permanent on a five-year deal in October. However, Merino found Premier League starts hard to come by in the second half of the campaign and just 14 of his 24 top-flight appearances were as part of the starting XI.
Merino returning home
The 22-year-old now returns to Spain with Real Sociedad, a club based just over 50 miles from his home town of Pamplona, with reports suggesting he had a £10million release clause in his contract met by the Basque outfir.
"I'm very happy and feel joy. I love this club, it is very close to Osasuna. I have been a fan since I was little," Merino, who has signed a deal until 2023, told Real Sociedad's official website. "I am delighted to be here and I can't wait to work with the ball."