Arsenal's most expensive signings ever

Despite embarking on a slow decline that culminated in outright toxicity following their Invincibles triumph and subsequent move to the Emirates in 2006, Arsenal still have the knack for snagging elite talent.

The club's stadium switch tightened the purse strings for a while on the transfer front and the Gunners haven't always been able to spend at a rate comparable to their contemporary rivals.

Nevertheless, the Kroenkes aren't exactly strapped for cash and the club has frequently smashed its own transfer record since KSE took ownership in 2011. In recent years, they haven't been shy in throwing their financial muscle around.

Here are the ten most expensive signings in Arsenal's history.

10. Riccardo Calafiori (£42m from Bologna)

Having come close to multiple Premier League titles but failing to usurp the all-conquering Manchester City machine, Arsenal have to keep investing in the right calibre of player until something shifts. Riccardo Calafiori appears another wise signing from the Gunners.

The young centre-back, who can also play at left-back, joined in July 2024 for £42m from Italian outfit Bologna, whom he had just helped qualify for the Champions League against the odds.

Comfortable on the ball and fierce in the tackle, it's clear why Arsenal were so enamoured by Calafiori.

9. Mesut Ozil (£42.4m from Real Madrid)

There isn't a signing in Arsenal's history that generated as much buzz as Mesut Ozil's arrival at the end of the 2013 summer transfer window. Life was sweet for Gooners over that brief period.

After beating Tottenham 1-0 in the north London derby on 1 September, the Gunners announced the addition of the Real Madrid playmaker the following day. Ozil arrived with a lofty reputation and certainly didn't disappoint supporters.

His first few years at the club were sensational and he came close to breaking Thierry Henry's single-season assist record in 2015/16, but tactical evolution rendered him surplus to requirements by the time Arteta took charge.

8. Gabriel Jesus (£45m from Man City)

Arsenal's morphing into Manchester City lite started with the addition of Gabriel Jesus in 2022.

The Brazilian had played an under-the-radar role in the club's success under Pep Guardiola and opted for a new challenge in the form of the emerging Gunners.

Jesus' immediate impact was transformative as he started 2022/23 like a house on fire but his Arsenal career hasn't quite continued on the same trajectory. In and out of the starting lineup in recent times, his profligacy and inconsistency has threatened to derail his north London adventure.

7. Thomas Partey (£45.3m from Atletico Madrid)

Arsenal had no Champions League football to offer Thomas Partey when he signed in 2020, depicting the club's historical pull despite their modern issues.

The Ghanaian was the first major coup of Arteta's tenure and while injuries have compromised the player's time in north London, he has often been a key cog for Arsenal.

However, those fitness issues continue to linger in the background, thus making him a fairly unreliable performer for the Gunners.

6. Alexandre Lacazette (£46.5m from Lyon)

Arsene Wenger turned to his homeland in search of a new marksman heading into what would be his final season in charge. The Gunners stumbled upon Lyon hitman Alexandre Lacazette and made him their record signing in 2017.

However, the forward's athletic limitations and profligacy in front of goal frustrated supporters, and while he consistently hit double-digit scoring tallies in the Premier League, he never scored more than 14 in a single season.

While Lacazette had some wonderful moments in an Arsenal shirt and was a serviceable option throughout his time at the club, he didn't turn out to be the ruthless goalscorer Arsenal thought they were signing.

5. Ben White (£50m from Brighton)

KSE are intent on the Arteta project proving successful and they've backed their Spanish boss with funds in recent windows.

Some of the club's signings under Arteta and Edu Gaspar have raised eyebrows and the cash splashed to sign Ben White from Brighton was questioned by many.

Nevertheless, White has proven to be an excellent addition since joining at the start of the 2021/22 campaign. The silky defender initially impressed at centre-back but has since blossomed as an all-action right-back under Arteta's guidance.

The technically-gifted defender has become a firm fan favourite in north London, with his carefree and laid-back persona endearing him to many.

4. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£56m from Borussia Dortmund)

After signing Lacazette to a record-breaking deal ahead of the 2017/18 season, Arsenal pulled a rabbit out of the hat midway through the campaign by bringing in Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for £56m.

The Gabonese forward had scored at an alarming rate in Germany and it didn't take long for the striker to usurp Lacazette as Arsenal's leading marksman.

Aubameyang starred for the Gunners and was eventually named club captain, scoring 92 goals in 163 games. However, his once strong relationship with Arteta soured and he departed in rather acrimonious fashion midway through the 2021/22 season.

3. Kai Havertz (£65m from Chelsea)

Kai Havertz's three seasons at Chelsea didn't entirely explain why Arsenal were convinced to part ways with £65m in 2023. The German proved to be a player of monuments rather than milestones.

Havertz will forever go down as the match-winner from the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City but he only scored 19 Premier League goals for the Blues - a tally 38 different players could better over the same time period.

However, he has emerged as a truly unique centre-forward for Arteta. While trialled in midfield, it's leading the line in a false nine role that has seen him be most productive and defenders are still trying to figure out just how to stifle the floating forward.

2. Nicolas Pepe (£72m from Lille)

Very few on the red side of north London batted an eyelid when the club splurged a mammoth £72m to sign Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019. The dynamic Ivorian winger scored 22 Ligue 1 goals the season prior and the excitement was palpable among Gooners regarding their shiny new toy.

Pepe, however, never lived up to his price tag.

The winger wasn't a complete bust and certainly flashed his talent during his debut season in north London, but the arrival of Arteta spelled trouble for the club-record signing.

Inefficiency in the final third and a lack of defensive astuteness saw Bukayo Saka soar past Pepe in the depth chart, and he was released by Arsenal just four years after his arrival.

1. Declan Rice (£105m from West Ham)

It took the best part of two interminable weeks for Declan Rice's transfer to Arsenal to be made official in the summer of 2023. West Ham managed to squeeze a guaranteed £100m out of the Gunners for their captain, making Rice the most expensive British player in the history of the sport and Arsenal's costliest acquisition of any nationality.

Rice's infectious excitement to get started at his new club mirrored that of the north London fanbase and they swiftly fell in love the with the dynamic midfielder during his debut season in 2023/24.

The indefatigable dynamo in the engine room proved transformative as the Gunners improved further under Arteta and there is no doubt that £105m was a reasonable fee given his impressive displays thus far.

Arsenal's most expensive signings ever

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