Arsenal - Emirates Stadium
Arsenal - Emirates Stadium
5 players who will never play for Arsenal again as summer 2026 transfer window opens
Arsenal are planning a major squad clearout this summer even after pocketing over £120 million in UEFA prize money from their Champions League final run, and the list of players leaving is already clear. As Mikel Arteta gets ready to overhaul his squad once more, five players have essentially played their last match in the famous red and white shirt. The looming departures of Ben White, Gabriel Jesus, Jakub Kiwior, Gabriel Martinelli, and Christian Norgaard all point to the same outcome; they are headed for the exit door.
Jakub Kiwior
Arsenal have already officially confirmed the permanent sale of Kiwior to FC Porto for €17 million, making him the first confirmed exit of the summer window. He never truly held down a starting berth at the Emirates, and his season-long loan in Portugal proved his future lay elsewhere. This one is done and dusted.
Ben White
White suffered suspected medial collateral ligament damage and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, including the Champions League final. Even before that cruel blow, he had started just 12 Premier League games this season, with Jurrien Timber firmly established as Arteta’s first-choice right-back. Arsenal have reportedly offered Barcelona the opportunity to sign him this summer, with a €30 million price tag considered reasonable. A fine servant, but his chapter at Arsenal is closing.
Three more certain exits this summer
Gabriel Jesus
Jesus has been most strongly linked with a return to boyhood club Palmeiras, and while he has spoken of unfinished business in Europe, his future at Arsenal looks finished regardless. His contract situation remains uncertain after a devastating ACL injury, and he is no longer the reliable striker Arteta needs at the top level. Viktor Gyökeres arrived and immediately made Jesus irrelevant. The Brazilian deserves a fresh start, just not in north London.
Gabriel Martinelli
Martinelli has been an unused substitute in both of Arsenal’s last two league games, and reports suggest he could fetch around £50 million in the summer window. The Brazilian burst onto the scene under Arteta with electrifying energy, yet his consistency has dropped sharply since 2024. Arsenal need a winger who delivers in the biggest moments, and Martinelli has repeatedly gone missing when it matters most. Selling now makes complete financial sense.
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Christian Norgaard
Reports in The Times suggest Norgaard is likely to move on at the end of the season, having featured just 19 times in all competitions despite joining only last summer. He also retired from international football with Denmark after their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which only makes it feel more like his time is up. At 30, he was always a short-term fix, and Arsenal will not extend that arrangement.
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The summer clearout starts now
These are the 5 players who will never play for Arsenal again, and their exits come at a time when the club really need the cash, the extra squad space, and a bit of clarity. Arsenal cannot repeat last summer’s net spend of £257 million, and big sales are now a must to stay in line with the Premier League’s new Squad Cost Ratio rules. Sentiment is all well and good, but Arteta is building for the long haul, and these five, whether due to injury, age, or simply falling down the pecking order, are no longer part of the plan.