Barcelona has secured the signing of Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal, agreeing to a contract that extends through 2029. The transfer, announced on Tuesday, reportedly involved a fee of around €10 million. This move follows Barcelona’s unsuccessful attempt to acquire Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, who declined to engage in negotiations with the Catalan club.

Jesus joins Barcelona to strengthen a forward line that lost Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres during the summer transfer window. Speaking about his arrival, Jesus acknowledged being a secondary target after Alvarez but expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity. “I have the chance to be here at Barcelona, I had a chance 10 years ago and life took me in another direction, but now I can be here and it’s a dream for me,” he said. He underscored his commitment to working hard and contributing to the team.

Before finalizing the deal, Barcelona had considered relying on winger Raphinha, who has effectively filled a striker role by scoring five goals in three matches. However, the club ultimately chose to add the experienced forward to their roster. Manager Hansi Flick praised the signing, noting Jesus’s style aligns well with Barcelona’s approach and expressing confidence in his potential impact on the team. Flick also credited sporting director Deco for orchestrating the deal.

Gabriel Jesus, 29, has faced challenges in recent seasons, including a significant knee injury in January 2025 that hindered his progress at Arsenal. At Arsenal, he found himself behind Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres in the selection hierarchy but still managed 32 goals over four seasons. Prior to his time in London, Jesus scored 95 goals during six years with Manchester City.

Despite recent setbacks, Jesus emphasized that he has fully recovered and is physically ready to contribute. “The knee is no longer a problem,” he said, adding that he has been performing well since returning to play for Arsenal.

Jesus becomes Barcelona’s seventh signing this summer, following acquisitions including Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, Jesse Bisiwu, Joao Cancelo, Rodri, and Dominik Livakovic.

In a related move, Barcelona confirmed the loan of midfielder Marc Casado to Deportivo La Coruna for the remainder of the season.