By Amaechi Agbo

FC Barcelona are closing in on the surprise signing of Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus in a deal worth a guaranteed €10 million plus add-ons.

The Catalan giants moved swiftly behind the scenes to secure a verbal agreement with both Arsenal and the 29-year-old Brazilian international. Driven by Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, the transfer has caught the football world by surprise.

The market maneuver was first broken by journalist Fernando Polo of Mundo Deportivo, signaling a rapid conclusion to the transfer saga. Gabriel Jesus has already given his green light to the move and agreed to personal terms. Arsenal and Barcelona are currently exchanging and preparing the formal paperwork to finalize the transfer.

Flights are already booked for Monday, August 31, 2026. The Brazilian forward will fly directly to Spain to undergo his medical tests. The entire operation is expected to be fully completed and officially announced within the next 24 hours.

The €10 million base fee represents a massive accounting hit for Arsenal compared to the £45 million they paid to Manchester City in 2022. However, with the clubs finalizing the final structures of the performance-related add-ons, the deal clears significant space on the Gunners’ wage bill before the transfer window shuts.

For Barcelona, Jesus provides an experienced, versatile attacking option capable of playing across the front line at a incredibly low market entry point.