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Arsenal transfer news## Vinicius Jr would have to make a major compromise if he makes the stunning move from Real Madrid to Arsenal
12:01, 27 Jul 2026
Arsenal are daring to dream of a blockbuster swoop for Real Madrid megastar Vinicius Jr - but there is a catch.
If the 26-year-old winger actually swaps the Bernabeu for London, he’ll be forced to surrender his preferred No. 7 shirt. With just a year left on his contract after eight seasons in Madrid, rumours regarding his future are flying.
The Spanish giants remain confident they can tie their star man down to a new deal and Diario AS reports that Vinicius wants to stay put. But if Arsenal somehow pull off the transfer of the summer, the Brazilian speedster will have to settle for a new squad number at the Emirates.
That currently belongs to Bukayo Saka, meaning Vinicius would need to seek an alternative. Before inheriting the iconic number in 2023 following Eden Hazard's exit, the Brazilian had sported No. 20 for three years - another shirt that's unavailable at the Emirates Stadium, currently worn by Noni Madueke.
Vinicius could opt to return to his original Madrid numbers - No. 28 or No. 25. Both are available within Mikel Arteta's squad, alongside No. 15 and No. 19 - the latter having been freed up following Leandro Trossard's departure to Besiktas.
While Vinicius wouldn't be able to retain his No. 7 at club level should an Arsenal transfer come to fruition, reports indicate he would become the highest-paid player in the club's history.
The Telegraph suggests that his remarkable salary of £400,000 per week wouldn't prevent the deal from going through. It also reports that club officials would seek to enhance his wages to further persuade the Brazilian to put pen to paper.
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Vinicius' potential earnings would comfortably eclipse those of Arsenal's current highest earner, Saka. The England star signed a £300,000-a-week deal in February, which is scheduled to increase each season.
The Brazil international has just completed his second-best goalscoring campaign in La Liga, netting 16 goals. However, he has now gone two consecutive seasons without securing a major trophy at Madrid.
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