Arsenal have signed Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City on a long-term deal, the London club said Monday. Financial details were not disclosed, but British media reported that the 25-year-old Brazil international was signed in a deal worth 45 million pounds ($54.54 million).
“I followed Arsenal when I was young because of (Thierry) Henry,” Jesus told Arsenal’s website. “Obviously, I didn’t follow many European teams, but when I saw some of the players who played here, I was like ‘wow, this club is big,'” he said.
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“When I played against Arsenal, I was looking at the Emirates and it was a very good stadium, so I’m very excited to play here.” Jesus ran out of room at City after the reigning English champions signed Norwegian striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.
The Brazilian scored 95 goals and 46 assists for City, but failed to get a regular starting berth last season, scoring eight league goals, and manager Pep Guardiola repeatedly deployed midfielders as “false nines” in attack.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is hoping that Jesus can fill a gap in his team’s attack after none of their top strikers scored more than six league goals last season.
The Brazilian worked with Arteta when the Spaniard was Guardiola’s assistant at City from 2016 to 2019.
