Real Sociedad Squad Depth 2026/27: Full Analysis

Real Sociedad enter 2026/27 with greater stability than they had a year ago. Pellegrino Matarazzo transformed the team after arriving midway through last season, eventually guiding La Real to the Copa del Rey title and a 10th-place La Liga finish. That cup success also returned the club to the Europa League.

The current squad reflects a familiar Real Sociedad approach: established senior players surrounded by young footballers developed internally or recruited for further growth. Álex Remiro, Mikel Oyarzabal, Takefusa Kubo, Sergio Gómez and Igor Zubeldia remain part of the core.

Around them, players such as Jon Martín, Luken Beitia, Mamadou Sarr, Héctor Fort and Job Ochieng are receiving increasing responsibility. The squad has enough numbers for European football. The more interesting question is where Matarazzo can rotate without losing too much quality.

Real Sociedad’s 2026/27 Squad at a Glance

The main options include:

Goalkeepers: Álex Remiro, Unai Marrero
Centre-backs: Igor Zubeldia, Jon Martín, Jon Pacheco, Mamadou Sarr, Luken Beitia
Full-backs: Jon Aramburu, Héctor Fort, Sergio Gómez, Aihen Muñoz, with Álvaro Odriozola currently working back from injury
Central midfield: Yangel Herrera, Carlos Soler, Beñat Turrientes, Jon Gorrotxategi, Luka Sučić
Advanced midfield: Arsen Zakharyan, Sučić, Soler
Wide attack: Takefusa Kubo, Ander Barrenetxea, Gonçalo Guedes, Job Ochieng, Álex Marchal
Centre-forward: Mikel Oyarzabal, Orri Óskarsson

That group gives Matarazzo considerable versatility, although some positions are more experienced than others.

Goalkeeper Remains Stable

Álex Remiro remains the clear No. 1. He has been one of Real Sociedad’s most dependable players for several seasons and provides both shot-stopping and calm distribution from the back. Unai Marrero is the main senior alternative.

The hierarchy is clear, and there is a noticeable experience gap behind Remiro. That is not unusual, but it makes goalkeeper one of the positions where a long-term injury to the starter would have a meaningful effect. For routine cup or European rotation, however, the department is adequately covered.

Central Defence Is Deep but Increasingly Young

This is one of the more interesting parts of the squad. Zubeldia remains the experienced reference point, but Matarazzo has shown considerable faith in younger defenders.

Jon Martín has already started league matches this season and is increasingly becoming a genuine first-team centre-back rather than simply an academy prospect. Luken Beitia has also been trusted in major matches.

Mamadou Sarr arrived on loan from Chelsea and made his first league start against Atlético Madrid. His athleticism and ability to step forward aggressively fit Matarazzo’s preference for defenders who can protect space behind a high line. Jon Pacheco provides another established option.

The result is strong numerical depth. The limitation is experience. If Zubeldia is unavailable, Real Sociedad could easily field a central defensive partnership containing two players still establishing themselves at the highest level. That creates potential, but also greater volatility than a centre-back group filled with proven veterans.

Full-Back Depth Has Improved

Sergio Gómez has become an extremely important left-sided player. He provides technical quality, crossing, and the ability to move into midfield during possession. Aihen Muñoz gives Matarazzo another natural left-back, meaning Sergio does not have to carry every competition.

The right side is built around Aramburu. His intensity and aggressive defending suit Matarazzo’s football, but the workload during the opening weeks highlighted how much La Real needed another natural option. Héctor Fort addresses that issue.

The former Barcelona defender gives Matarazzo a genuine right-back alternative and should receive his first major European opportunity while Aramburu serves a UEFA suspension against Bournemouth. Odriozola can increase the competition further once fully fit. That makes the full-back group healthier than it appeared earlier in the summer.

Midfield Has Variety Rather Than One Fixed Combination

Real Sociedad have several useful midfield profiles. Yangel Herrera brings physicality, defensive work and the ability to arrive in the penalty area. Carlos Soler offers more control in possession and can operate at different midfield heights.

Beñat Turrientes gives Matarazzo another technically secure central midfielder, while Gorrotxategi provides defensive discipline and ball-winning. Sučić is particularly valuable because he can play deeper or advance closer to the forwards.

That flexibility means Real Sociedad does not depend on one specific midfield partnership. Matarazzo can select more physical combinations for difficult away matches or add technical players when La Real expect to control possession. The question is not depth. It is whether the midfield consistently creates enough from open play.

Zakharyan and Sučić Can Help With Central Creativity

Real Sociedad have several excellent passers but fewer established players whose natural role is creating between the lines. Zakharyan can provide that quality when fit and in rhythm. Sučić has also shown he can contribute closer to goal, including scoring the late winner against Elche.

Soler can move forward from central midfield. This gives Matarazzo options, but none has yet made the central creative role completely their own. That makes the wide attackers particularly important.

Wide Attack Is One of the Strongest Areas

Kubo remains the most naturally creative winger in the squad. He can receive under pressure, beat defenders and create chances from the right half-space. Barrenetxea provides more direct running from the opposite side and has already contributed important goals this season.

Guedes adds experience, pace and shooting power. Ochieng has also begun receiving significant first-team minutes and scored in the win at Elche. Álex Marchal provides another younger option.

That gives Matarazzo enough wide depth to rotate during Europa League weeks. There is still a quality difference between Kubo and the developing players behind him, but La Real no longer needs to use the same two wingers in every match.

Centre-Forward Has Options but No Huge Margin for Injuries

Oyarzabal remains central to the attack even though he can operate from several positions. He understands how to link midfield and attack, press from the front and find scoring positions inside the box. Óskarsson gives Real Sociedad a more conventional No. 9.

The Iceland international provides movement behind the defence and gives Matarazzo another option when he wants Oyarzabal operating elsewhere. He scored the winner against Espanyol earlier this season. The numbers are sufficient because Real Sociedad usually play with one striker.

The potential problem is simultaneous absence. If Oyarzabal and Óskarsson were both unavailable, Matarazzo would likely have to convert one of his wide forwards rather than turn to another established senior centre-forward. That makes striker depth adequate rather than exceptional.

Europa League Football Will Use the Whole Squad

Real Sociedad’s Copa del Rey victory returned them to European competition. Their Europa League league-phase schedule includes Bournemouth, Union Saint-Gilloise, Lillestrøm, Lyon, Crystal Palace, Torreense, Viktoria Plzeň and Juventus.

That means repeated Thursday-Sunday stretches. The defensive and midfield groups appear well prepared for rotation. Matarazzo can change centre-backs, introduce Fort or Aihen at full-back, and rotate between Turrientes, Herrera, Soler, Gorrotxategi and Sučić.

The wide positions also contain enough alternatives. Centre-forward and goalkeeper are the departments where rotation requires more careful management because the gap behind the leading options is more noticeable.

The Young Defenders Will Be an Important Test

One of the most important themes of Real Sociedad’s season may be whether the younger defensive options become consistently reliable rather than merely promising. Jon Martín, Beitia and Sarr have already received important minutes.

If they continue developing, La Real could finish the season with one of La Liga’s deepest young defensive groups. If performances fluctuate, Matarazzo may become more dependent on Zubeldia and the experienced starters during important European matches.

This is why squad-depth analysis needs to consider quality as well as numbers. Real Sociedad have enough defenders. The question is how quickly the younger ones become dependable enough that rotation does not feel like a risk.

Overall Squad Depth Assessment

Overall Assessment: Strong and Flexible, With Youth Carrying Significant Responsibility

Real Sociedad have built a squad capable of handling La Liga and Europa League football. Midfield and the wide attacking positions contain particularly good variety. Full-back depth has improved through Héctor Fort, while the emergence of Jon Martín and Beitia plus Mamadou Sarr’s arrival gives Matarazzo several central-defensive options.

The biggest dependencies are straightforward. Remiro remains difficult to replace with equivalent experience. Oyarzabal remains extremely important to the attack. Kubo provides a level of individual creativity that the alternatives cannot completely reproduce. Those are normal weaknesses rather than evidence of poor squad construction.

Conclusion

Real Sociedad’s 2026/27 squad combines an experienced core with an increasingly important group of young players. Pellegrino Matarazzo can rotate his midfield, change his wide attackers and select from several centre-backs without abandoning the team’s overall structure.

The squad is particularly interesting defensively because Jon Martín, Luken Beitia and Mamadou Sarr now have opportunities to establish themselves alongside more experienced players.

Further forward, Takefusa Kubo, Ander Barrenetxea and Gonçalo Guedes provide strong wing depth, while Oyarzabal and Óskarsson offer two different centre-forward solutions. Europa League football will test that depth regularly.

Real Sociedad appear to have enough players for the workload. The key question is whether their younger alternatives can perform consistently enough that Matarazzo can genuinely rotate rather than simply rest starters and accept a drop in level.