Arsenal's 10 most expensive transfer signings – ranked

Since Mikel Arteta’s transformation of the Gunners, Arsenal have become a different proposition on and off the pitch.

The north Londoners simply could not compete domestically following successive 8th-place finishes under the Spaniard, hampering their ability to attract top players in the transfer market.

That has since changed, and several players have joined the club for big money in recent years. But who are the Gunners’ most lucrative arrivals? Here’s a look at the current top 10.

All information in this list is correct as of 24th October 2025. Transfer fees have been obtained from news reports, with add-ons included where applicable.

However, if a player has left the club and is deemed/reported not to have met the requirements to fulfil add-ons, only the initial fee has been recorded.

Alexandre Lacazette signed at the start of Arsene Wenger’s final season in charge at the club for a record £46.5m. He started with a goal on his debut, but failed to help return the Gunners to their glory days.

He struck up a tight partnership with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, particularly amid Arsenal’s run to the Europa League final in 2019, but despite being a fine servant under three Gunners bosses, their former record signing arguably underwhelmed at the Emirates.

Ben White joined from Brighton & Hove Albion initially to bolster the centre of defence, but he was soon shifted out to right-back, with his positional change proving to be a masterstroke.

White became a solid first-team player after developing a strong relationship with Bukayo Saka on the Gunners’ right side, and even occasionally showed his eye for goal.

More recent years saw White battle injuries and the emergence of Jurrien Timber, but his signing looks like money well spent overall.

There was plenty of anger and confusion over Arsenal’s interest in Noni Madueke, with the winger’s arrival in 2025 marking the latest in a series of deals involving Chelsea players.

Madueke was brought in to provide cover on the wings for the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, though the jury may remain out on the ex-Blues ace until he can consistently deliver the goods in north London.

The winger’s deal was for an initial £48.5m, and could rise by another £3.5m in add-ons.

Arsene Wenger’s final act in the transfer market as Arsenal manager was to somewhat uncharacteristically go all out to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for big money.

The Gabon striker became the Gunners’ record signing just six months after they had broken the bank for Lacazette.

Aubameyang won the Premier League Golden Boot in his first full season and scored twice in the 2020 FA Cup final, before things ended rather sourly, with both a loss of form and the captain’s armband.

One of Mikel Arteta’s more understated signings ahead of the 2025/26 campaign was the capture of Martin Zubimendi, who joined from Real Sociedad following months of speculation.

Zubimendi had been close to joining Liverpool before opting to stay put for another year, giving Arsenal the time to perfect the groundwork for an approach of their own – eventually sealing a £60m move early in the summer window.

Arsenal finally resolved their hunt for a striker by signing the player with the most goals in Europe’s top leagues during 2024/25.

Viktor Gyokeres was unveiled as a marquee signing, coming months after Arsenal’s striking options were decimated through injury, hampering their chances of success.

In order to succeed at the Emirates, Gyokeres will likely not only have to deliver the goals, but also the trophies to go with them.

Arsenal sensed an opportunity when Chelsea bought a team’s worth of players in 2023, and decided to pick off one of their most exciting players in Kai Havertz.

It was the second time in a matter of months that the Gunners had turned to Stamford Bridge to hunt for new recruits, with Jorginho joining in the preceding January.

Havertz soon became Arsenal’s main striker for £65m, with the fans often singing about the money they thought they had wasted.

In perhaps the most dramatic moment of the 2025 transfer window, Eberechi Eze seemed moments away from joining north London rivals Spurs before reportedly begging Mikel Arteta to make his Arsenal dream come true.

The Spaniard duly obliged, and Eze was presented to his new fans before the Gunners’ first home game of the season after Arsenal paid Crystal Palace £67.5m to snatch him from their rivals’ grasp.

It certainly isn’t a bad way to endear yourself to your supporters, but Eze will be hoping he can back up that enthusiasm on the pitch.

Arsenal’s apparent desperation to join the big boys in the transfer market came to a head in the summer of 2019 when Unai Emery sanctioned a £72m deal to sign Nicolas Pepe from Lille.

While the winger had his moments, Pepe failed to justify his price tag during a tumultuous period for the club, and ended up leaving on a free after being unable to become an integral part of Mikel Arteta’s plans.

Arsenal’s breakout 2022/23 campaign gave the Gunners the licence to bid for top players, and nothing encapsulated this more than their approach for West Ham United captain Declan Rice.