August 30, (THEWILL) — Barcelona have reportedly reached an agreement with Arsenal to sign Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus in a surprise late-window move, with the striker poised to begin a new chapter in Spain.
The Catalan club are said to have agreed a deal worth €10 million plus add-ons for the 29-year-old, with Jesus now expected to undergo a medical before completing his move to Barcelona.
The transfer represents a change of direction for Barcelona, who had spent much of the summer pursuing Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez.
However, Atletico have remained unwilling to sell Alvarez to a direct domestic rival, forcing Barcelona to explore alternative options as they continue their search for a new centre-forward.
According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona have now turned their attention to Jesus and have reached an agreement with Arsenal over the Brazilian’s transfer.
Jesus’ arrival would add experience and versatility to Barcelona’s attacking options. The former Manchester City forward can operate as a central striker or from wider positions.
At the same time, his previous experience at the highest level makes him an attractive option for the Catalan side.
Why Arsenal Are Ready to Let Jesus Leave
Jesus’ future at Arsenal has become increasingly uncertain after the forward slipped down Mikel Arteta’s attacking pecking order.
The Brazilian has found himself behind Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres in the competition for minutes, increasing speculation that he could leave the Emirates Stadium before the transfer window closes.
Arteta was recently asked about the futures of Jesus and fellow Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli and acknowledged that difficult conversations could be required over their situations.
“It’s inevitable, at some point you need to have certain discussions and say certain things that sometimes are tough,” Arteta said.
He also stressed the club’s affection for Martinelli while leaving the door open for changes to the squad.
Jesus joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022 and initially became an important part of Arteta’s attack. However, injuries and increased competition for places have affected his consistency during his time in north London.
Barcelona Continue Surprise Transfer Strategy
The potential move for Jesus would be another unexpected piece of business from Barcelona during a busy transfer window.
The Catalan club have already made moves for Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, and a deal for Jesus would further underline their determination to strengthen their attacking options.
Barcelona’s pursuit of Alvarez had appeared to be their preferred route, but with Atletico unwilling to negotiate a deal, Jesus has emerged as the more attainable option.
Alvarez, meanwhile, returned to Atletico training on Sunday, with reports suggesting the Argentina international has accepted that he will remain with Diego Simeone’s side for now.
For Barcelona, the focus has now shifted to completing the Jesus deal.
The Brazilian’s medical will be the next major step before the transfer can be officially completed, with the €10 million agreement potentially bringing an experienced Premier League forward to La Liga at a relatively modest fee.
If the move goes through, Jesus will arrive at Barcelona with something to prove — while Arsenal will be left to reshape an attack that has already undergone significant changes this summer.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
