La Liga
Gabriel Jesus, a 29-year-old Brazilian forward, has revealed that Arsenal sidelined him from first-team training during his final week at the club before completing his move to Barcelona on September 1, 2026. The deal was finalized for an amount close to €10 million, according to reports prior to the agreement.
Gabriel Jesus explains his final stage at Arsenal
Jesus states that he completed the preseason normally with Arsenal despite knowing he might have fewer minutes. The situation changed in the last week, as he stopped training with the group and began working separately before his departure was finalized.
The forward remained professional while awaiting a decision about his future. In the 2025/26 season, he played in 14 Premier League matches, scored 3 goals, and was part of the team that won the English championship.
His decrease in prominence was due to offensive competition. Arsenal had Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyökeres for the forward position, while Jesus sought to regain continuity after a cruciate ligament injury in January 2025.
The Brazilian concluded his time in London with 123 appearances, 32 goals, and 22 assists since he arrived in 2022. Arsenal also lost other attackers during the market but opted to sell Jesus due to the opportunity presented by Barcelona.
Gabriel Jesus reveals he was forced to train away from Arsenal's first team before a move to Barcelona materialised 🔚:
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) September 9, 2026
🗣️ "The truth is, I was training, doing all the pre-season with Arsenal as normal and even though I knew I wouldn't maybe get some opportunities there, no one… pic.twitter.com/qADc54iLTt
Barcelona and Deco accelerated the operation
Barcelona turned to Gabriel Jesus as an alternative to reinforce the attack after failing to sign Julián Álvarez in this transfer window. Negotiations progressed in the last days of August, leading to the agreement between both clubs.
Deco played a direct role in the decision along with Hansi Flick. The sporting director sought a forward capable of playing in various positions, and the deal allowed for the addition of experience without a high transfer fee.
The agreement states that Jesus will be a Barcelona player until June 30, 2029. The Catalan club officially confirmed the signing on September 1 after Arsenal and Barça completed the necessary paperwork for the transfer.
The forward has already integrated into the team dynamics. On September 3, he started training with the group and later made his debut for Barcelona in the 5-0 victory against Valencia, coming on in the final minutes.
For Gabriel Jesus, the next challenge will be to earn playing time at Barcelona following a summer marked by his exit from Arsenal. Deco and Flick count on him to expand offensive alternatives as the Brazilian begins a contract until 2029, after a final stretch in London that, according to his own account, ended with separate training sessions.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gabriel Jesus desvela por qué fichó por el Barcelona
