As one of the most popular and successful football clubs in England, Arsenal FC has been an attractive option for the public for a long time. The tradition of this club speaks for itself; apart from winning 28 crucial domestic trophies, Arsenal FC holds the records for the longest undefeated streak and longest run in topflight of English football.
Arsenal have been a prime example of a club that has garnered a reputation for spending big and bringing in star players. Whether it be under the glory days of Arsene Wenger or the transitional years of Mikel Arteta, the Gunners have never hesitated to put their money where their mouth is.
So, with the recent inflation seen in the transfer markets – which players has Arsenal signed for huge money?
In this article, you will discover who are Arsenal's most expensive signings ever.
12. Martin Odegaard - £31.5m (from Real Madrid, 2021)
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After spending a loan at the club last season, Arsenal clearly felt he had seen enough to sign Martin Odegaard on a permanent contract in the summer of 2021.
Odegaard was once considered one of Europe's most promising players. Ødegaard has stumbled a bit in his career recently, vying for time to play in the Spanish capital.
However, now back at Arsenal, the Norwegian is starting to show all that it is and should be a smart, long-term signing for the London club.
11. Fabio Vieira - £34m (from Porto, 2022)
The Portugal midfielder arrived in £34m deal from Porto; 22-year-old scored six league goals in 15 starts in 2021/22 season.
10. Shkodran Mustafi - £36.9m (from Valencia, 2016)
The German centre-back joined Arsenal in what felt like a poor, desperate and overpriced move for a player in the final days of the 2016 summer transfer window.
His spell at Arsenal was memorable only for the errors he made, and the bad things that happened whenever he was on the pitch.
He occasionally showed form that suggested he might be back to his best, but it wasn’t sustained.
9. Alexis Sanchez - £38.3m (from Barcelona, 2015)
On 31 January 2014, Alexis joined Arsenal from Barcelona on a long-term contract for a fee of £35.5 million. He won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2017, having also reached the finals in 2014 and 2015.
In hindsight, the £36m spent on the winger was a bargain. He needed no time to introduce himself and delivered on the pitch.
Unfortunately, he wanted more and in a very unfortunate swap deal, he was exchanged for Manchester United's Henrikh Mkhitaryan with six months left on his contract. Both probably regretted it.
8. Granit Xhaka - £40.5m (from Monchengladbach, 2016)
Xhaka has been the glue between Arsenal’s defence and attack since his arrival, an integral part of their build-up on the pitch and a mature and professional voice in the locker room, which is something the fans can often overlook. The Gunners play better with him out there.
No player generated as much discussion amongst Arsenal fans as Xhaka. He extended his stay at the Emirates stadium until at least 2024 last year.
7. Mesut Ozil - £42.3m (from Real Madrid, 2013)
The signing of Mesut Ozil on the deadline day of the 2013 summer transfer window left many fans in awe. He ushered in a new era where the Gunners would be willing to splash money to secure the best talent out there and be able to compete with the best.
Although perhaps not the most popular among Arsenal fans nowadays, there is no question that he graced the English game with beautiful football. Scoring 44 goals and assisting 77 in 254 games for Arsenal and having almost beaten Thierry Henry’s assist record during the 15/16 season.
6.Thomas Partey - £45m (from Atletico Madrid, 2020)
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The Ghanaian joined the Gunners as Arteta’s first marquee signing on deadline day of 2020 summer transfer window. The box-to-box midfielder has only been at the club for two seasons.
He struggled to adapt during his first season but during the second season, however, we saw more of what Partey and his composure and technical abilities bring to the Arsenal team. The talent is there and with consistency, Arsenal fans will fall in love with their new number 5.
5. Gabriel Jesus - £47m (from Manchester City, 2022)
The Brazilian joined Arsenal from Manchester City where he had been since 2017.
He signed a five year deal that will see take home £265,000 every week, making him Arsenal's best paid player.
4. Alexandre Lacazette - £47.7m (from Lyon, 2017)
Out of contract at the end of 2021/2022 season, Lacazette was bought in the summer of 2017 after back-to-back stellar seasons with Lyon . At the time, he was seen as the perfect target man Arsenal were missing the seasons before.
3. Ben White - £50m (from Brighton, 2021)
The England defender, Benjamin White, joined Arsenal in £50m transfer from Brighton in 2021. The centre-back signed a five-year deal with option to extend for a further year.
He was integrated into the Arsenal starting team where he formed formidable cetre-back partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes.
2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - £57.4m (from Dortmund, 2018)
Wenger's penultimate signing as Arsenal manager — and the club's current former captain — joined in January 2018. Since then, the Gabonese lived up to expectations and shown his worth on the pitch by regularly scoring goals.
He won the Golden Boot with Sadio Mane at Liverpool in his first full season in the Premier League. The next season he was just one goal short of Jamie Vardy at the top. But we can’t forget Pierre Aubameyang scoring all four goals that helped Arsenal beat Man City and Chelsea to lift the FA Cup in 2020.
The fall out with Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta was the only blemish on his stint at the Emirates stadium.
1. Nicolas Pepe - £72m (from Lille, 2019)
Pepe had been tearing Ligue 1 open, managing 23 goals and 12 assists in 41 games for Lille during the 18/19 campaign. Arsenal and Unai Emery were considering Pepe and Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha that summer and eventually activated their transfer record to get the former.