Who Are Real Sociedad?
Real Sociedad are a historic Spanish football club from San Sebastián in the Basque Country, competing in La Liga and the Copa del Rey as part of Spain’s elite since the early 20th century.[1][2] They play their home matches at the Reale Arena (commonly known as Anoeta) and have built a strong identity around technical football and local talent.[2]
The 2025-26 season is the club’s 116th in existence and their 16th consecutive year in the top flight, underlining a long period of stability and competitive consistency.[1] Guided by head coach Imanol Alguacil, Real Sociedad have recently become regular contenders for European places while maintaining a clear commitment to youth development and a recognizable playing style.[2][5]
Key Transfers and Squad Changes in 2025-26
The major storyline of the current campaign is a reshaped midfield following the record sale of academy product Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal for around €70 million, a move that significantly boosted the club’s finances but removed a central pillar of their build-up play.[1] In response, Real Sociedad signed Carlos Soler from Paris Saint-Germain and Yangel Herrera from Girona, adding experience, ball-carrying and pressing ability to the center of the pitch.[1]
Beyond midfield, Real Sociedad have sought to deepen their squad with targeted signings and internal promotions. Winger Gonçalo Guedes joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers to provide goals and one-on-one threat out wide, while defender Duje Ćaleta-Car arrived on loan from Lyon to strengthen the back line.[1] At the same time, youth prospect Mikel Goti stepped up from the B team, reflecting the club’s philosophy of mixing external recruits with academy graduates.[1][5]
Season Form and Copa del Rey Push
In La Liga, Real Sociedad’s early 2025-26 form has been uneven, with the club sitting in the middle of the table after a sequence of tight wins, draws and narrow defeats.[3][4][7] They have shown they can compete with strong opposition, edging out teams like Sevilla and Athletic Club at home, but have also dropped points in matches where defensive concentration and finishing have faltered.[3][4]
Their performance in the Copa del Rey has been notably more convincing, with solid away victories against lower-tier opponents such as Negreira and Reus, posting clean sheets and controlling games with a rotated eleven.[1] These results suggest the squad has enough depth to handle multiple competitions, and the cup is emerging as a realistic opportunity for silverware if they can maintain their current momentum into the later rounds.[1][3]