Gabriel Jesus leaves Arsenal to join Barcelona on three-year contract

Barcelona have signed Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal on a three-year deal, the Spanish club have announced.

The agreement between the two clubs was confirmed on Tuesday, with Jesus becoming the latest player to move during the current summer transfer window. Barcelona said the 29-year-old had completed his transfer and signed a contract that will keep him at the Catalan club for three seasons.

“Arsenal and Barcelona have reached an agreement for the transfer of Gabriel Jesus to the Catalan side, with the Brazilian forward signing a three-year contract with Barcelona,” the club said in an official statement.

Jesus joins after three seasons with Arsenal, having made 123 appearances for the club. He scored 32 goals and provided 22 assists during his time at Emirates Stadium.

The forward suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in January 2025, which kept him out of action until December. He later helped Arsenal win the Premier League title in the 2025-26 season, scoring three goals in 14 matches.

Before his move to Arsenal, Jesus spent five and a half seasons with Manchester City, where he played under manager Pep Guardiola. He joined the club in the summer of 2016 after establishing himself as one of the leading young players in Brazilian football.

Jesus made 236 appearances for Manchester City, scoring 95 goals and creating 45 more. During his time at the club, he won the Premier League four times, the FA Cup once, the League Cup four times and the Community Shield twice, in 2018 and 2019.

Barcelona’s statement also outlined the forward’s early development in Brazil. Born in Sao Paulo on 3 April 1997, Jesus began his football career in his home city with Anhanguera before joining the youth system at Palmeiras Sao Paulo, one of the country’s biggest clubs.

He made his first-team debut for Palmeiras in March 2015 and played a key part in the club’s success soon afterwards. Palmeiras won the Copa do Brasil in 2015 and the Brazilian league title in 2016, while Jesus was named the best player in the Brazilian league that year.

His performances in Brazil earned him the opportunity to move to Europe, leading to his transfer to Manchester City in 2016. The club were managed by Guardiola at the time, marking the beginning of the next major phase of Jesus’ career.

Barcelona also shared a brief message alongside the announcement on social media: “When instinct calls, you answer.” The post was accompanied by a telephone emoji and a photograph connected with the transfer.

Jesus now begins a new chapter in Spain after winning major domestic honours in both England and Brazil. His arrival gives Barcelona another experienced attacking option following his return from a serious knee injury and his final season with Arsenal.