Arsenal have sold a lot of big-name players over the years, and in return the Gunners have received some huge sums of money.
Rival clubs poached their star players during the final years of Arsene Wenger’s reign, although they are now able to keep hold of their biggest assets under Mikel Arteta.
We’ve taken a look at the most expensive sales in Arsenal’s history and how those players fared after leaving the club.
Note: we’ve not included Alexis Sanchez, who joined Manchester United in an infamous swap deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan move in the opposite direction without any money being exchanged.
12= Joe Willock – £25m
Year: 2021
To: Newcastle United
Arsenal appearances: 78
Arsenal goals: 11
One of five Arsenal academy graduates on this list, Willock worked his way through the ranks but struggled to pin down a regular starting berth in the first team.
He joined Newcastle United on loan in January 2021 and netted eight goals in 14 Premier League games to help steer the club away from relegation.
The Magpies forked out an initial £22million to turn the loan into a permanent deal and it could reach £25million with potential add-ons.
He was a key part of the side that secured Champions League qualification in 2022/23 but has since fallen down the pecking order at St James’ Park.
Sven Botman, Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak and Joe Willock, Newcastle
Newcastle stars Sven Botman, Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak and Joe Willock
12= Aaron Ramsdale – £25m
Year: 2024
To: Southampton
Arsenal appearances: 89
Arsenal goals conceded: 99
Despite being named in the 2022/23 PFA Team of the Year, Ramsdale found himself relegated to the Arsenal bench after David Raya arrived at the Emirates.
Arsenal rejected loan offers from Wolves and Ajax before selling the goalkeeper to Southampton in a deal worth an initial £18million and £7million in add-ons.
He endured a disastrous debut season at St Mary’s and was relegated from the Premier League for the third time in his career.
12= Theo Walcott – £25m
Year: 2018
To: Everton
Arsenal appearances: 397
Arsenal goals: 108
After playing a bit-part role for Arsenal in the first half of the 2017/18 season, Walcott decided to bring down the curtain on his 12-year career with the Gunners.
He was linked with a return to boyhood club Southampton but Everton won the race for his signature in the January transfer window after paying an initial £20million and £5million in add-ons.
The winger registered just 11 goals and nine assists in 85 appearances for the Toffees and eventually moved back to Southampton in 2020.
12= Emmanuel Adebayor – £25m
Year: 2009
To: Manchester City
Arsenal appearances: 142
Arsenal goals: 62
Adebayor scored 30 goals for Arsenal in 2007/08 but failed to replicate that form in the following campaign and was sold to Manchester City in a £25million deal.
“An offer came in for me and, as I understand it, Arsene [Wenger] and the club accepted the offer the same day,” Adebayor said.
“It wasn’t my fault I left, it was Arsene who wanted to accept the offer for me. I wasn’t making any comments in the press about wanting to leave or being unhappy.”
The striker scored 14 goals in his debut season at City, including one against his former employers which he celebrated by running the length of the pitch to knee slide in front of the away end.
But he fell out of favour following Roberto Mancini’s arrival and had loan spells at Real Madrid and Tottenham before joining the latter on a permanent deal.
🔟 years ago today…
Emmanuel Adebayor ran the length of the Etihad pitch to celebrate a vital Man City goal in front of the fuming Arsenal fans 😡 pic.twitter.com/n025qM9GNw
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 12, 2019
12= Samir Nasri – £25m
Year: 2011
To: Manchester City
Arsenal appearances: 125
Arsenal goals: 27
Having signed Adebayor and Kolo Toure in 2009, Manchester City completed another raid on Arsenal in the summer of 2011 by signing Nasri and Gael Clichy.
City spent a total of £32million on the duo and the bulk of that outlay was reserved for Nasri, who cost a reported £25million.
The former France international showed glimpses of his outstanding talent at the Etihad and won two Premier League titles, but he also struggled with inconsistency and was sold to Turkish side Antalyaspor in 2017.
12= Marc Overmars – £25m
Year: 2000
To: Barcelona
Arsenal appearances: 142
Arsenal goals: 40
Overmars enjoyed a brilliant debut season at Arsenal in 1997/98, helping the Gunners win the Premier League title and the FA Cup.
The former Netherlands international spent another two years in north London before joining Barcelona in a £25million deal in the summer of 2000.
He was tasked with filling the void left by Luis Figo’s departure, but the winger failed to replicate his Arsenal form in a Barcelona shirt.
His time at Camp Nou was also plagued by a persistent knee injury, which forced him to retire at the end of the 2003/04 season.
6. Cesc Fabregas – £29.8m
Year: 2011
To: Barcelona
Arsenal appearances: 303
Arsenal goals: 57
Fabregas left the Barcelona academy to sign for Arsenal in the summer of 2003 and developed into one of the best midfielders in the world.
After years of speculation, Barcelona spent an initial £25.4million and another £4.4million on potential add-ons to bring their academy graduate back to the club in 2011.
The former Spain international won a La Liga title and the Copa del Rey over the following three seasons, but he joined Chelsea in 2014 after failing to break up the iconic midfield trio of Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
“If it wasn’t Barcelona, for sure, I would have stayed at Arsenal. No matter what,” he said when reflecting on his departure.
“I think timing is always so important in football. Looking back now, probably I should have waited a little bit more until Xavi faded a little bit more – and just go there and take over his place.”
If you love football, you love @cesc4official. 🥰
Happy 33rd birthday! 💙🎂❤️#StayAtHome #LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/t6CQSuyb3Y
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) May 4, 2020
5. Eddie Nketiah – £30m
Year: 2024
To: Crystal Palace
Arsenal appearances: 168
Arsenal goals: 38
Nketiah failed to shake off his status as Arsenal’s back-up striker, playing second fiddle to the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
The Gunners sold him to Crystal Palace in 2024 and received an initial fee of £25million, which could rise to £30million with potential add-ons.
But the 26-year-old is behind Jean-Philippe Mateta in the pecking order at Selhurst Park and netted just seven goals in 37 appearances in all competitions in his debut season.
4= Emile Smith Rowe – £34m
Year: 2024
To: Fulham
Arsenal appearances: 115
Arsenal goals: 18
After starting just three Premier League games in the 2023/24 season, Smith Rowe decided to leave Arsenal in search of regular first-team football.
Fulham secured his signature by offering a package worth £34million, which included a base fee of £27million and £7million in add-ons.
The midfielder is now their club-record signing but he struggled for consistency in his debut season, registering six goals and three assists in 40 appearances.
“I don’t doubt his talent and quality, but the Premier League demands so many things from you and you always have to be in very good shape and top level physically,” Marco Silva said. “This is something we have been working on with Emile.”
4= Alex Iwobi – £34m
Year: 2019
To: Everton
Arsenal appearances: 149
Arsenal goals: 15
Following the big-money arrival of Nicolas Pepe in the summer of 2019, Iwobi was deemed surplus to requirements by Unai Emery.
The Nigeria international left the Emirates and joined Everton in a deal worth an initial £28million and another £6million in potential add-ons.
He overcame a difficult start to his Goodison Park career and won the Everton Players’ Player of the Season award in 2022/23.
The 29-year-old completed a £22million move to Fulham in the summer of 2023 and is now playing alongside Emile Smith Rowe once again.
Emile Smith Rowe (again) ⚽️
Alex Iwobi 🅰️
Hale End linking up at Fulham. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/TUdOXxbDK6
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) August 10, 2024
2. Folarin Balogun – £34.4m
Year: 2023
To: Monaco
Arsenal appearances: 10
Arsenal goals: 2
Balogun made just two Premier League appearances for Arsenal but starred on loan at Stade de Reims in the 2022/23 season, scoring 22 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions.
His form attracted interest from AC Milan, Inter, RB Leipzig, Marseille and Monaco, and the latter secured his services by paying an initial £25.7million and another £8.7million in potential add-ons.
But the USA international has struggled to justify that price tag, netting just 12 goals in 48 appearances over the last two seasons.
1. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – £40m
Year: 2017
To: Liverpool
Arsenal appearances: 198
Arsenal goals: 20
Oxlade-Chamberlain refused to sign a new contract at Arsenal in the summer of 2017, forcing the Gunners to cash in on a player who had just one year left on his deal.
Liverpool took advantage of the situation, signing the England international in a deal worth an initial £35million and another £5million in potential add-ons.
He enjoyed a trophy-laden spell on Merseyside, winning the Premier League, Champions League, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA World Club Cup.
But his six years at Anfield were also plagued by a number of injury problems, which restricted him to 146 appearances in all competitions.
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