Arsenal's five most expensive January transfers of all time

Cameron Smith

• 16 Jan 2025 15:00 CST
• 4 min read

Arsenal are one of the biggest clubs in world football and they haven’t been shy in spending huge transfer fees on new players over the past few years.

The Gunners have been heavily backed in the transfer market during the 21st century, with a number of the club’s priciest signings arriving in January.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through Arsenal’s five most expensive January transfers of all time.

READ MORE: Arsenal's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

5. Jakub Kiwior - €19.5m (from Spezia, 2023)

Jakub Kiwior is Arsenal’s fifth-most expensive January signing in history due to his €19.5 million move from Spezia in 2023.

The Poland defender spent 18 months at Spezia, racking up 43 games for the club, before Arsenal decided to bolster their backline by signing him in January 2023.

However, Kiwior has been heavily linked with an Arsenal exit since his arrival at the Emirates Stadium, with multiple Serie A clubs interested in acquiring his services.

READ MORE: Arsenal's 10 biggest sales of all time

4. Jose Antonio Reyes - €20m (from Sevilla, 2004)

Arsenal signed the late Jose Antonio Reyes for €20m from Sevilla in 2004, with the Spain winger just 20 years old at the time.

He went on to make 110 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 23 goals and winning three trophies, including the 2004 Premier League title.

After a loan spell at Real Madrid during the 2006-07 season, Reyes joined Atletico Madrid for €12m in July 2007. He tragically passed away following a car accident in 2019.

3. Leandro Trossard - €24m (from Brighton & Hove Albion, 2023)

Leandro Trossard joined this list when he left Brighton & Hove Albion to sign for Arsenal for €24m in 2023.

The Belgian forward was a key player for the Seagulls, but he fell out with Roberto De Zerbi and Arsenal pounced as Brighton looked to offload him as soon as possible.

Trossard left the AMEX Stadium with 25 goals in 121 appearances for the club, and he registered 10 assists during his first 20 Premier League games for Arsenal.

2. Henrikh Mkhitaryan - €34m (from Man Utd, 2018)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was involved in one of the most high-profile swap deals in Premier League history, with the Armenian joining Arsenal from Manchester United in January 2018.

Alexis Sanchez moved in the opposite direction, following a stellar stint at the Emirates Stadium, but the transfer failed to work out for either player.

A foot injury hampered Mkhitaryan’s first full season at Arsenal and after a season-long loan spell at AS Roma, he joined the Serie A side on a free transfer in 2020.

1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - €63.8m (from Borussia Dortmund, 2018)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is Arsenal’s most expensive January transfer of all time, courtesy of his €63.8m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2018.

The Gabon legend arrived in north London with a huge reputation from the Bundesliga, and he immediately became a key player at the Emirates Stadium.

Aubameyang netted 92 goals in 163 appearances for Arsenal, including a brace in the FA Cup final against Chelsea in 2020, but he was stripped of the captaincy in 2021, following a dispute with Mikel Arteta, before joining Barcelona in January 2022.

Arsenal’s five most expensive January transfers of all time