Iván Martín set to swap Girona for Racing as move nears completion | OneFootball

Iván Martín is set to join Racing from Girona, the move dependent on final paperwork and his signature.

According to El Correo, the clubs have agreed a transfer and the midfielder will link up shortly if nothing unexpected arises. He would be Racing’s fifth summer signing.

The addition targets a shortfall in central midfield, with further changes possible before the registration deadline. Sporting director Chema Aragón has driven talks in recent days to land a recruit suited to the top flight.

Athletic had tracked Martín for years, opening talks with Girona and his camp over a loan last summer without agreement. He remained on their list as they weighed a future successor to Ruiz de Galarreta.

Creative on the ball and secure in possession, he can feature as an interior, a No 10 or deeper. That versatility appealed to Athletic, yet a firm push never came, and Racing stand to benefit.

Martín departs after a quieter campaign than 2023-24 under Míchel, when he helped Girona to a historic Champions League place. He ended that season with five goals and four assists. His deal ran to 2028 with a 20 million euro clause, though Girona were prepared to negotiate well below that, and Athletic’s interest dated back to his Villarreal academy days, including a 2022 enquiry.

Source: El Correo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”