Arsenal have officially announced the signing of Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus for a fee of £45million.
The Brazilian, who has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium for several months, has put pen to paper on a long-term contract in north London, bringing his five-year stay at the Etihad Stadium to an end. He is Arsenal’s fourth signing of the summer.
Jesus said: “It’s been a pleasure to play for Manchester City. I feel like I am a better player now than when I arrived – and to win 11 trophies has been amazing. My four Premier League titles are particularly special for me. I want to thank everyone at City – the manager, my teammates and the fans – for all the support they have given me over the past five-and-a-half years.”
City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain said: “Gabriel is a fantastic professional and I want to thank him for what he has given Manchester City since he came here in 2017. His hard work and dedication to this Club cannot be questioned. He has been a brilliant servant and I have no doubt he will continue to be a success.”
Jesus, who turned 25 earlier this year, joined City from Brazilian outfit Palmeiras in January 2017, after it was confirmed in August 2016 that he would join Pep Guardiola’s squad. He soon established himself as a fans’ favourite at City, scoring seven goals and grabbing four assists in his first ten Premier League appearances between his January arrival and the end of the 2016/17 campaign.
The 25-year-old, who will wear the No.9 shirt at Arsenal, went on to make a total of 233 appearances in City colours, scoring 95 goals and registering 46 assists. His most fruitful campaign as a City player was the 2019/20 season, where he scored 23 goals and grabbed 14 assists, meaning he registered 37 direct goal contributions in 53 appearances in all competitions.
Jesus’ last campaign as a City player, which saw him win his fourth Premier League title, saw him net 13 goals and register 12 assists in all competitions. His standout moment was when he scored four times to help City beat Watford 5-1 in March.
