Who are the Arsenal new signings and who have left the Gunners in the current transfer window? We'll answer that question below…
Following a second-place finish and UEFA Champions League qualification, Arsenal are making some big moves in the summer transfer market as they seek to close the gap to Manchester City in the Premier League and make a strong European challenge.
Youth remains very much the focus of their transfer strategy. With what is already one of the most talented young squads in European football, Arsenal are seeking to add fresh talent to their ranks and with Champions League football to offer once more, they’re certainly carrying more pulling power in this transfer window than recent ones.
Mikel Arteta will be happy with the business that has been done so far with the North London side already strengthening in some key areas.
Below are the confirmed Arsenal ins and outs so far.
Arsenal new signings: Summer 2023 arrivals
Declan Rice (West Ham)
Arsenal’s pursuit of Declan Rice was one of English football’s worst-kept secrets with Arteta desperate to bring the England international midfielder to The Emirates. It was widely anticipated that West Ham’s 2-1 UEFA Conference League Final win over Fiorentina in June would be Rice’s last appearance in claret and blue with Arsenal swiftly tabling a series of bids for the 24-year-old.
However, West Ham were never going to let the England international leave on the cheap and it would ultimately take £105m, a record fee for a British player, for Arsenal to get their man. Rice should immediately slot into the base of the midfield for his new club and has already featured for Arteta’s men who are currently in pre-season action in the United States.
Kai Havertz (Chelsea)
Another player moving across London to The Emirates this summer is Kai Havertz. The German international endured a mixed time of it at Chelsea. Despite scoring one of the most famous goals in the club’s history in the shape of a Champions League Final winner in 2021, Havertz leaves Chelsea having failed to live up to the hype and excitement that greeted his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen three years ago.
He struggled to hold down a regular starting role in his first two seasons at the club and while he did reach 30 Premier League starts for the first time last term, that was largely the result of Chelsea’s lack of an outright striker.
Mikel Arteta will be attracted by the versatility of the 24 year old who can operate on either flank or in a central role. At £65m, it’s another hefty fee that Arsenal have forked out, but Havertz should arrive with something of a point to prove and Arteta clearly believes that the best is yet to come as far as Havertz’s Premier League journey is concerned.
Jurriën Timber (Ajax)
Another key target for Arsenal Sporting Director Edu was Ajax defender Jurriën Timber. As with the Rice deal, it took some time for everything to be finalised, but the 22 year old arrives in North London for a fee of £38.5m.
Timber will add depth to Arsenal’s defensive options and is capable of operating as a right-back as well as in central defence where he mostly featured for Ajax last term. He brings with him all the technical qualities you’d expect from an Ajax academy graduate, but he also possesses excellent defensive attributes which will be given their sternest test yet this season in the Premier League.
David Raya (Brentford)
Signing on an initial loan from Brentford, though a permanent transfer is expected at the end of the season. Raya joins Arsenal to create competition for Ramsdale. Raya's arrival also signalled the departure of Matt Turner, who joined Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal’s transfer departures
Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)
The main departure for Arsenal this summer so far has been Granit Xhaka with the feisty midfielder leaving for £21.5m to join Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. The Switzerland international started all but two of Arsenal’s Premier League games last term in one of his most productive campaigns in England, but Edu will feel he has got a good fee for the 30-year-old whose place in the team was always going to come under threat given the arrival of Declan Rice.
Pablo Mari (Monza)
Defender Pablo Mari has also left the club. He hasn’t featured much for Arsenal since the 2020/21 season due to loan spells in Italy with Udinese and Monza. He made 28 starts for the latter in Serie A last term and has now formally cut ties with the Gunners to become a Monza player on a permanent basis.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Released)
It’s also the end of the road for Ainsley Maitland-Niles as far as his Arsenal career is concerned. Having first joined the club at the age of just six, Maitland-Niles leaves after nearly two decades on Arsenal’s books, although recent years have largely seen him loaned out to other clubs. He suffered relegation with Southampton last term and has failed to add to the five England caps he won in 2020.
Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)
The 29-year-old keeper joined Arsenal last year from MLS side New England Revolution. With Arsenal now adding Raya alongside Ramsdale, Turner couldn't break into the starting 11. Moving to Forest for a reported £8m fee, Turner has a chance to prove he has what he takes to make it in the Premier League on a regular basis.
Kieran Tierney (Real Sociedad) (loan)
Kieran Tierney just hasn't managed to keep the left-back spot secured since joining. A combination of unfortunate injuries and his more defensive style has meant Arteta has looked elsewhere for cover on the left side. He secured a loan move to Real Sociedad, reportedly due to them being the only club willing to pay his full wages. Tierney will have a chance to play first-team football again, though his time at Arsenal is likely over regardless.
Marquinhos (FC Nantes) (loan)
Having joined from Sau Paulo last season, Marquinhos will spend the next season out on loan in France. Scoring on his debut against FC Zurich, Marquinhos never had a good run in the team after that. He spent the second half of last season with Norwich on loan, and featured for Brazil at the U20 World Cup.
Folarin Bologun (AS Monaco)
After the American's move to Inter Miami stalled, Balogun has instead opted to remain in Europe. Having developed since the age of 10 in the Arsenal academy, Balogun will now head to France to continue his career development. Having spent last season on loan with Ligue 1 side Reims, scoring 21 times in 37 appearances, it was clear Bologun was destined for bigger things. With Arsenal not likely to offer him a starting spot, he moved to Monaco for a reported £45m
