Barcelona has confirmed the signing of Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus. The player, formerly of Arsenal, has signed a two-year contract and arrives to strengthen the Catalan club’s offensive sector.
Barcelona officially announced the arrival of 29-year-old forward Gabriel Jesus this Tuesday (1st). The Brazilian ends a decade-long spell in English football, where he played for Manchester City and Arsenal, to take on the challenge of wearing the number 9 jersey for the Spanish giant. The agreement includes an initial two-season term with an option to extend for another year.
The negotiation, which involved a fixed sum of 10 million euros (approximately R$ 60.17 million), plus performance-based bonuses, marks a shift in the blaugrana club’s market strategy. Gabriel Jesus was chosen by the board after Atlético de Madrid refused to negotiate for fellow forward Julián Álvarez.
Career and Adaptation
The player arrived in Catalonia on Monday (31st) to undergo the standard medical examinations. Already integrated into the club’s environment, the athlete was seen in the stands of Camp Nou accompanied by his family, where he closely watched Barcelona‘s impressive 5-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano in LALIGA.
Numbers and Expectations
A product of Palmeiras‘ academy, Gabriel Jesus has built a solid career in Europe since 2017, scoring 127 goals. In his time at City, he netted 95 times in 236 games, while at Arsenal, the forward scored 32 goals in 123 appearances. For the Brazil national team, the center-forward has found the back of the net 19 times in 64 call-ups.
Regarding market activity, the M360 Team highlights that this is the team’s sixth signing for the season. The reinforcement joins names like Gordon, Adeyemi, Rodri, Cancelo, and Livakovic, raising the level of the squad managed by the coaching staff.
Next Steps
The focus now shifts to the Brazilian’s debut. Barcelona has an intense schedule, and the team is already eyeing the match against Valencia, away from home, in the national championship on September 6th. Following that, the club will begin its campaign in the Uefa Champions League, facing Feyenoord on the 9th, followed by a clash against Levante on the 13th.
