Arsenal wanted to sign Vinicius Junior throughout the summer transfer window, but Real Madrid and the player agreed on a new six-year contract during pre-season
Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Junior has had a slow start to the season for Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
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Vinicius Junior's transfer value has dropped since the transfer window closed, despite signing a new six-year Real Madrid contract during pre-season.
Arsenal wanted to sign the Brazil international this summer, with assistant coach Miguel Molina acknowledging during the international break that Vinicius was one of their transfer targets. The club were aligned at all levels in that they would work to make the move happen if a deal could be done.
Due to the player's reputation, it would have taken a transfer fee comfortably over the £100million mark. However, two months after signing a new contract, his value has dropped.
Vinicius was worth just shy of £120million throughout the summer, according to transfermarkt. But that valuation has dropped to £110million during this international break.
That is the lowest his stock has been in four years, but at that point, it was still on the rise. His value peaked at £170million in late 2024 before dropping down to £144million by June 2025.
Another decrease to £127million followed after the first few months of last season, before dipping just below £120million at the start of this summer. However, the forward remained a key part of the Brazil national team this break.
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Arsenal wanted to sign Vinicius Junior in the summer transfer window
Arsenal wanted to sign Vinicius Junior in the summer transfer window(Image: Albert Perez/Getty Images)
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Vinicius played three friendlies during this season's first international break, facing Australia twice and India once. In the second of their matches against the Socceroos, they were awarded two penalties.
Raphinha scored the first one but had been substituted before the second, which meant Bruno Guimaraes was in line to step up. However, the Arsenal midfielder instead allowed Vinicius to take the spot-kick, which he converted from 12 yards.
After the match, the Madrid man said: "Bruno Guimaraes is our penalty taker when Raphinha isn't playing, and I thought he'd want to take it, but he knows that I need a bit of confidence right now, in this moment, my team-mates know I need some confidence now. Losing a World Cup is hard and difficult to accept, and the comeback is never easy."
Guimaraes also confirmed what Vinicius said, explaining: "That was the reason [the penalty gave Vini confidence]. After the penalty incident, many things came to light, but here in the national team, we have no vanity whatsoever.
"In the World Cup, [head coach Carlo] Ancelotti told me to take the penalty. Today, he told Vini to take it; Vini really needed to score a goal, and he took it very well.
"We have no vanity whatsoever; we want what's best for Brazil, we're happy for him, and it's about continuing the work."