“I Just Signed for Arsenal!” : Nacho Monreal Reveals His Wife Had No Idea About Shock Deadline Move

Former Arsenal star Nacho Monreal has lifted the lid on one of the craziest transfer stories in Gunners history, admitting his wife had no clue he’d joined the club until after he’d already signed.

The Spaniard’s £8.5 million switch from Málaga to Arsenal in January 2013 happened at lightning speed, so fast he barely had time to pack, let alone make a phone call.

It all began with a surprise early morning call from his former teammate Santi Cazorla.

“I remember I woke up … I had two phone calls from Santi,” Monreal said. “So, I was a bit surprised.”

When Monreal finally called back, he couldn’t believe what he heard.

“‘Santi, what’s happened? Why are you calling me so early in the morning?’ He said, ‘Nacho, Nacho, be quick, do you want to join Arsenal?’ I said, ‘What?’ ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, Arsène Wenger asked me if you want to join the club.’”

Just three hours later, Monreal was in London, pen in hand, sealing the deal, all while his wife was completely in the dark.

“I didn’t even have time to talk with my wife,” he laughed. “I phoned her nine times. She didn’t reply because she was working. When she called me: ‘Nacho, what do you want? You called me nine, ten times.’ I said: ‘I am in London.’ ‘What?’ ‘I just signed for Arsenal!’”

What started as a frantic deadline-day dash became the start of something special. Monreal went on to make over 250 appearances, win three FA Cups and three Community Shields, and earn cult-hero status among Arsenal fans.

Looking back, Monreal insists it was fate.

“It was only ever Arsenal for me. Once settled, I told my agents that as long as Arsenal wanted me, I wanted to stay.”

A whirlwind transfer, a shocked wife, and a legacy built in North London, Monreal’s Arsenal story is pure football drama.