Barcelona have completed the permanent signing of Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal in a deal worth £8.6m (€10m), bringing the Brazil forward’s four-year spell in north London to an end.
The transfer was finalised after Jesus completed his medical on Monday. Barcelona had moved quickly to secure the 29-year-old after their pursuit of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez stalled.
Jesus joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022 and made 123 appearances for the club, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists. However, persistent injury problems and competition from Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres had reduced his role in Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Arteta confirmed before Arsenal’s victory over Aston Villa that Jesus was no longer training with the first-team group. Asked whether the decision was linked to an imminent departure, the Arsenal manager said: “Personal situations, whatever they are, I think it’s clear.”
Napoli had also expressed an interest in the Brazilian, but Barcelona’s status as last season’s Spanish champions proved decisive as they sought to strengthen their attacking options.
Jesus becomes Barcelona’s third signing from the Premier League this summer, following Anthony Gordon’s move from Newcastle and Rodri’s arrival from Manchester City.
The Catalan club had hoped to sign Alvarez from Atletico, but the Madrid side made clear it would not negotiate with its La Liga rivals. Arsenal had also been pursuing the Argentina international, although a deal now appears unlikely at this stage.
Jesus’s departure is part of a busy period of change at Arsenal, who have also sold Fabio Vieira to Hamburger SV. Midfielder Ethan Nwaneri is meanwhile understood to be nearing a loan move to Borussia Dortmund.
