Barcelona completed the signing of striker Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal on Tuesday (Sept. 1) on a contract until 2029, after the Catalan club failed in their efforts to persuade Atletico Madrid to part with Julian Alvarez.
"Barcelona and Arsenal have reached an agreement for the transfer of Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus," the Catalan club confirmed in a statement. Spanish media reported that Barcelona will pay Arsenal around €10 million ($11.6 million).
Jesus arrives to bolster an attack that had been weakened by the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres earlier in the summer. The Spanish champions had pursued Alvarez throughout the summer, but Atletico Madrid steadfastly refused to negotiate with Barcelona.
Asked about being a second-choice option after Barcelona missed out on Alvarez, Jesus said: "I don't feel insulted. I have the chance to be here at Barcelona. I had the chance 10 years ago, but life took me in a different direction, and now I can be here—it's a dream for me. I always want to do my best. I'm a hard worker, I know my qualities, but I believe hard work always pays off."
Barcelona had been prepared to end the transfer window without another No. 9 after Raphinha scored five goals in three matches playing as a striker, but they ultimately decided to bring in Jesus. Coach Hansi Flick expressed: "I was a bit surprised at the opportunity to get him. I really like him. I like his style of play. It fits with our style. I think he can help us a lot in matches. For us, he can be important, so thank you to sporting director Deco for again doing a great job."
The 29-year-old suffered a serious knee injury in January 2025, disrupting his career at Arsenal, where he fell behind Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres in Mikel Arteta's pecking order. He scored 32 goals in four seasons at Arsenal, following 95 goals in six years at Manchester City.
"I had a tough time in the last two years, but apart from that, everyone knows my quality," Jesus added. "I'm very fit, physically very fit. The knee is no longer an issue. I recovered well and came back playing well with Arsenal. My knee and my body are fine, and I'm ready to give everything."
Jesus is Barcelona's seventh signing of the summer, after Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, Jesse Bisiwu, Joao Cancelo, Rodri, and Dominik Livakovic.
