Earlier this week, Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay, one of the board of directors and vice president Ángel Oyarzun flew to London to secure the 50% rights retained by Arsenal following his sale to the Basque side last summer.
Aperribay was hoping to work out a dealbefore 1st July to acquire the rights, as Arsenal’s permanent buy-back option for €4.2 million expires at the start of the summer transfer window.
However, upon arrival back in San Sebastian, Aperribay announced, via Voz Populi’s Kike Marin, that Arsenal had informed the Basque side that they will be activating the buy-back option for the 25-year-old.
“Arsenal have informed us that Vela would be with them next season.”
Real Sociedad and Vela have already reached a contract extension agreement, which would see the Mexican remain at Anoeta for four more seasons and raising his salary to €2,5 million per season, making him the highest-paid player on the team, so it the decision may fall down to Vela whether he wants to continue at the club where he feels at home or move back to London, where he was discarded and loaned out several years ago.
