Gabriel Jesus is set to join Arsenal from Manchester City after agreeing to a five-year deal. The striker will move clubs in the offseason for a free of £45m.
Reports indicated the Brazilian’s fellow compatriot — Edu, Arsenal’s technical director — and the Gunners’ head coach in Mikel Arteta had a key part in this move.
Arteta knows Jesus well from when he was on Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at City (2016-2019).
Jesus originally joined City in 2016, and still had a year left on that contract. Since 2016, Jesus has 58 goals and 32 assists in 159 Premier League matches.
In Jesus’ last season working with Arteta, he had 23 goals and 14 assists in 53 appearances overall.
He is the first player Arsenal have signed from Manchester City since Tommy Caton in 1983.
Jesus has won 4 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cups, 2 Charity Shields before signing for Arsenal.
He is set to be Arsenal’s fourth addition this summer following the likes of Marquinhos, Matt Turner and Fabio Vieira.
Jesus’ proposed contract would keep him with Arsenal until 2027. The official announcement is set to come later this following following a formal medical with the team.
Reports indicate Erling Haaland will become Manchester City’s new number when Gabriel Jesus leaves the club.
Around the same time reports confirmed the Jesus to Arsenal news, rumors also indicated the club may have also submitted a new big for Lisandro Martinez from Ajax. They are also working on speeding up a deal to sign Raphinha.
The offseason activity for the Gunners so far seem to indicate that Arteta and Edu have full backing from the Kroenkes (club owners).
Arsenal kick off the 2022-2023 Premier League season against Crystal Palace on 5 August.