Arsenal legend Santi Cazorla, 40, agrees new deal with boyhood club on minimum wage after promotion to LaLiga

Santi Cazorla, aged 40, has signed a new one-year contract with his boyhood club, Real Oviedo, agreeing to earn the La Liga minimum wage. This marks his continued stay after making an emotional return to the club in 2023, where he played a pivotal role in securing their promotion back to the Spanish top flight for the first time in 24 years. His contributions included scoring a stunning free-kick in the La Liga 2 play-off semi-final against Almeria and converting a penalty in the extra-time second leg of the final against CD Mirandes.

Despite offering to play for free upon his return to the club where he was in the academy from ages eight to 16, league regulations required him to accept the minimum wage of £77,000 per year (£1,480 per week). Following Oviedo's promotion, he has again signed for the minimum possible amount. However, as La Liga's minimum wage is higher at £168,000 per year (£3,230 per week), this represents a £90,000 pay rise for Cazorla. This salary means Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid will earn three times more in a single week than Cazorla earns in a year in the same league.

Generously, Cazorla will donate 10% of his wage and shirt sales to Real Oviedo's academy. The club hailed his renewal, stating he is "a symbol and emblem of Oviedo" who embodies the club's values on and off the field, proving "dreams, when pursued with the heart, come true."

Cazorla, who turns 41 in December, scored five goals and provided five assists in 35 games last season. The two-time European champion with Spain spent six years at Arsenal (180 appearances) before leaving in 2018. His career was nearly ended by a severe Achilles injury in October 2016, which required 11 operations. One operation led to gangrene, and doctors told him he should be satisfied just to walk again, let alone play professional football.