Arsenal has signed Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City on a long-term contract, the London-based English Premier League (EPL) club said on Monday.
Financial details were not disclosed but British media reported the 25-year-old Brazil international was signed in a deal worth 45 million pounds (54.54 million dollars).
“I followed Arsenal when I was young because of (Thierry) Henry,” Jesus told Arsenal’s website.
“Obviously, I didn’t follow too many European teams. But when I saw some of the players who were here, I was like ‘wow, this club is big’.
“When I played against Arsenal I was looking at the Emirates and it was a very good stadium. So, I’m very excited to play here.”
Jesus was surplus to requirements at Manchester City after the Premier League champions signed Norway striker Erling Haaland from Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.
The Brazilian racked up 95 goals and 46 assists at Manchester City but failed to nail down a spot in the starting line-up last season.
He scored eight league goals as manager Pep Guardiola deployed a midfielder as a “false nine” to lead the attack.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will hope Jesus can plug the hole in his team’s attack after none of their main strikers scored more than five league goals last season.
The Brazilian worked with Arteta when the Spaniard was an assistant to Guardiola at Manchester City from 2016 to 2019.
“I’m very excited. The club has done a tremendous job to recruit a player of this stature,” Arteta said.
“I know Gabriel personally very well, and we all know him well from his time in the Premier League and being really successful here.
“This is a position that’s been on our radar for a long time now and we have managed to get a player that we all wanted. So, I’m really happy.”
Jesus is Arsenal’s fourth recruit of the summer following the arrival of compatriot Marquinhos, American goalkeeper Matt Turner and Portuguese attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira.
He will compete for the centre-forward position at Arsenal with 23-year-old England youth international Eddie Nketiah, who signed a long-term contract extension this month.