Arsenal's 10 biggest sales of all time

Martin Macdonald

• 22 Feb 2025 13:14 CST
• 6 min read

Arsenal are one of the most successful and well-supported clubs in English football, but even they have to sometimes accept that key players might want to go onto pastures new.

The north London club’s rich history is peppered with star players deciding to draw a line under their time at Arsenal, and in return the Premier League outfit have received some remarkable sums of money.

However, more often that not, the Gunners have seen their key players leave in order to join a Premier League rival.

Below, FootballTransfers lists the 10 most expensive sales Arsenal have made in their history.

10. Eddie Nketiah - €29.7m (to Crystal Palace, 2024)

Eddie Nketiah left Arsenal in 2024 after failing to establish himself as a reliable No.9 option.

The striker, who came through the Chelsea and Arsenal academies, needed a change of scenery and joined Crystal Palace for €29.7m.

However, the problem persisted at Selhurst Park and Nketiah disappointed in his first season at his new club.

9. Folarin Balogun - €30m (to Monaco, 2023)

After a successful loan spell during the 2022-23 season with Reims, Folarin Balogun returned to Arsenal with a point to prove.

However, Arteta already had Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah to choose between, and Kai Havertz's arrival pushed Balogun down the pecking order.

The American international was not content with a bench-warmer role and sought an exit, with Monaco winning the race to sign him for €30m.

8. Alex Iwobi - €30.4m (to Everton, 2019)

Alex Iwobi had become an Arsenal regular by the time he left to join Everton, but the Gunners were more than happy to sell the Nigerian upon receiving a €30.4m offer for his services.

Iwobi had made 149 Arsenal appearances before departing, while his last game for the club saw him net in their 4-1 loss to Chelsea in the 2019 Europa League final.

He left Everton to join Fulham in 2023, with the Craven Cottage outfit spending €25.7m to bring him back to London.

7. Robin van Persie - €30.7m (to Man Utd, 2012)

Like Thierry Henry before him, Robin van Persie established himself as Arsenal’s most important player and one of the best strikers in the world before ultimately deciding to move on in search of silverware.

After announcing that he wouldn’t be signing a contract extension in 2012, Arsenal promptly agreed terms to sell the Dutch striker to Premier League rivals Manchester United, and Van Persie happily agreed to a four-year deal.

The striker won his first English top-flight title under Sir Alex Ferguson during his debut campaign at Old Trafford, following his €30.7m move.

6. Emile Smith Rowe - €31.8m (to Fulham, 2024)

Emile Smith Rowe was once regarded as one of the brightest talents in Arsenal's Hale End academy.

The attacking midfielder starred for Arsenal in the 2021/22 season, but an injury subsequently forced him to spend a lot of time on the treatment table.

Smith Rowe never managed to regain his starting spot in Arsenal's side and left in summer 2024 after two seasons spent sitting on the bench.

Fulham paid a whopping €31.8m for him, although it was money well spent as he had a successful first season with the Cottagers.

5. Cesc Fabregas - €34m (to Barcelona, 2011)

Having joined the club as a teenager and becoming one of the best midfielders in the world, Cesc Fabregas’ time at Arsenal was always overshadowed by the fear that he would one day return to Barcelona. And that’s exactly what happened in 2011.

The Spaniard had even become club captain at the Emirates Stadium, endearing himself to the Gunners fanbase with a consistently-high performance level.

After joining the Catalan side, Fabregas played a crucial role in helping Barca win the Spanish Cup in his first season and La Liga in his second.

His reputation amongst Arsenal fans wasn't helped when he returned to England to join their bitter rivals Chelsea in 2014.

4. Alexis Sanchez - €34m (to Man Utd, 2018)

Alexis Sanchez played a key role in Arsenal's FA Cup triumphs in both 2015 and 2016, but the club were never able to challenge for the Premier League title, something he hoped would happen when he joined Man Utd in 2018.

However, by the point of his move to Old Trafford, the Chile international was well past his best and he scored just three goals in 32 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils.

On the other hand, Sanchez netted 80 goals and provided 45 assists in 166 appearances during his time at Arsenal.

3. Nicolas Anelka - €35m (to Real Madrid, 1999)

Nicolas Anelka was nothing short of a phenomenon when he broke into Arsenal’s first team and he played a crucial role in the club's Premier League and FA Cup double in the 1997-98 season.

Despite his impressive goal record, Anelka soon developed a reputation as "Le Sulk" and when Real Madrid came in with a big-money bid in 1999, Arsenal decided to accept it, only somewhat reluctantly.

The France striker later admitted he should have never left the Gunners.

2. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - €38m (to Liverpool, 2017)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was one of England's most promising young wingers when he joined Arsenal from Southampton and he quickly become a key member of the north London club's team.

In seven seasons at the Emirates Stadium, Oxlade-Chamberlain made 198 appearances and won three FA Cups along the way.

However, the England international was enticed away in 2017 and joined Liverpool for €38m, after Chelsea had also expressed their interest.

Although he was a useful asset for Jurgen Klopp, injury seriously limited Oxlade-Chamberlain's impact at Anfield and he left on a free transfer in 2023.

1. Marc Overmars - €40m (to Barcelona, 2000)

Marc Overmars only spent three years at Arsenal, but the Dutch winger was a fine talent whose blistering pace helped the club to a domestic double under Arsene Wenger in the 1997-98 season.

However, when Barcelona came calling in 2000, there was little Arsenal could do. The Spanish club knew Overmars was desperate to play for them and he duly signed, with France midfielder Emmanuel Petit also making the move at the same time.

Overmars even announced the transfer on his own personal website before Arsenal had the chance to confirm the deal to the media. Barca paid €40m for the speedy winger, a record sale for the Gunners.

The 10 biggest Arsenal sales of all time

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