Real Sociedad enters a demanding season in La Liga, the Europa League, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España with a thinned midfield and a pressing need for Yangel Herrera to step up. According to AS, Brais Méndez and academy product Mikel Rodríguez have departed, while Jon Gorrotxategi remains sidelined with pubis issues. Herrera approaches the campaign almost as a reset after a troubled debut year. He arrived in Donostia on the final day of last summer's window from Girona for 11 million euros, joining while injured and not making his club bow until 19 October 2025. Muscle setbacks dogged his first season at Anoeta. Early cameos still yielded impact, drawing a penalty and an opponent's red card, but another injury halted any rhythm. The 28-year-old finished with only 14 appearances across Liga and Copa, totalling 561 minutes, far short of expectations for a signing championed by former coach Sergio Francisco. He returned to group work in Zubieta a week ago alongside Jon Aramburu and Orri Óskarsson after extended leave for international duty. Now training at full tempo to rebuild fitness, the shortage in midfield offers him an immediate opening. Herrera joined Real after three influential seasons at Girona, a side that qualified for the Champions League two years ago. Last season, however, Girona were relegated to Segunda División. In current standings, Real Sociedad is 17th in La Liga, with 0 points, 0 goals scored and 0 goals conceded. Their next fixture is on 17 January 2027 against Atletico Madrid, away.