Almost eight years have passed since Arsène Wenger said farewell to Arsenal and the club embarked on a period of frenetic change. Under Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have gone through numerous squad overhauls, spending more than £1bn to rebuild the team – and then rebuild it again, and again.
In total, 49 first-team signings have been made since Wenger left the club. Some of them proved to be exceptional value for money, but many of them did not. Here Telegraph Sport ranks them all, from the short-term emergency loans to the club-record mega-deals.
The signings are listed from best to worst, based on a combination of their performances, their cost and the expectations when they joined. You can jump between sections using our navigation menu below. You can also vote for your best and worst at the end, and join the debate in the comments section.
1-11: The ceiling raisers
1. Martin Odegaard (2021 to present)
From: Real Madrid (initial loan, then £30m)
Played: 218 Goals: 42 Assists: 42
When Arsenal’s players and coaches held a vote for the captaincy before this season, the contest was not even close. Martin Odegaard won by a mile. The Norwegian has worn the armband since 2022 and he retains the faith of all who work with him in north London. Off the pitch, he is a thoughtful leader and impressive communicator. On it, he has been one of Europe’s most watchable and effective playmakers in recent years. A remarkable bargain at £30m.
In a word: Maestro
2. Declan Rice (2023 to present)
From: West Ham United (£105m)
Played: 131 Goals: 20 Assists: 27
It takes a special player to justify a transfer fee of more than £100m, but Rice has achieved that task. Not only has he maintained the consistency and physicality that underpinned his success at West Ham, he has also added layers to his game: more goals, more assists, devilish set-pieces and rampaging forward runs. Now 26, he has become a complete midfielder. His ability to shape big matches, especially, is extraordinary.
In a word: Personality
3. William Saliba (2019 to present)
From: Saint-Étienne (£27m)
Played: 157 Goals: 7 Assists: 3
Saliba’s career at Arsenal did not start well – he was loaned to Saint-Étienne, Nice and Marseille – and there was a time when it seemed like he would never make his mark in north London. Since the summer of 2022, though, he has been a foundational member of Arteta’s defence. Saliba is still only 24, but he has been one of Europe’s best defenders for the last three seasons. Big, quick, composed. The Frenchman has it all.
In a word: Smooth
4. Gabriel Magalhães (2020 to present)
From: Lille (£23m)
Played: 232 Goals: 24 Assists: 8
Gabriel was one of the first signings under Arteta and he has grown with each season. He has developed so impressively that he is now probably the best centre-back in the Premier League. Gabriel’s aggression when attacking the ball makes him a constant threat in the opposition box, and a fabulous backs-to-the-wall defender.
In a word: Monstrous
5. David Raya (2023 to present)
From: Brentford (initial loan, then £27m)
Played: 123 Clean Sheets: 54
Raya arrived at Arsenal in challenging circumstances. Many Arsenal supporters, so enamoured by Aaron Ramsdale, simply did not understand why he was signed. But after a shaky start, the Spaniard has proven why Arteta believed him to be an upgrade – and he is now established as one of Europe’s finest goalkeepers. Raya’s athleticism allows him to make stunning saves and his distribution is world class. He is the back-to-back winner of the Premier League’s Golden Glove award.
In a word: Clean
6. Leandro Trossard (2023 to present)
From: Brighton (£21m)
Played: 148 Goals: 35 Assists: 29
Arsenal never planned to sign Trossard in January 2023. They had spent months preparing for the arrival of Mykhailo Mudryk, before their move was hijacked by Chelsea. The pivot to Trossard was initially regarded as a short-term fix but the Belgian winger is getting better and better, and this season has been his best yet. In terms of value for money, Trossard has been one of the finest signings in the Premier League in recent years.
In a word: Clutch
7. Gabriel Martinelli (2019 to present)
From: Ituano (£6m)
Played: 249 Goals: 60 Assists: 30
Martinelli was effectively a £6m punt when he joined Arsenal as a quiet teenager from the lower tiers of Brazilian football. It has proven to be a stunningly good investment. Martinelli’s speed and finishing ability have made him an important attacker throughout Arteta’s tenure, and also a regular for the Brazil national team. An unquestionably brilliant use of transfer funds.
In a word: Pace
8. Ben White (2021 to present)
From: Brighton (£50m)
Played: 173 Goals: 6 Assists: 13
Initially signed as a ball-playing centre-back, White then evolved into one of the Premier League’s most reliable and complete right-backs. White is loved by the Arsenal supporters for his desire to win, his cunning on the pitch (including his gamesmanship) and the way he has brought out the best of Odegaard and Bukayo Saka on the right flank. A true fighter, he has often played through significant pain.
In a word: Warrior
9. Jurrien Timber (2023 to present)
From: Ajax (£34m)
Played: 77 Goals: 5 Assists: 8
Right-back. Left-back. Centre-back. It does not matter where Timber plays, he seemingly always delivers a performance of physical intensity and technical class. Schooled at Ajax, Timber has the footballing ability and intelligence to receive the ball in any situation. He is also a magnificent one-versus-one defender, using his strength to bully opposition wingers. Signed for £34m, he is worth double that now.
In a word: Pitbull
10. Kai Havertz (2023 to present)
From: Chelsea (£65m)
Played: 89 Goals: 29 Assists: 13
One of Arteta’s favourite players. It took some time for Havertz to win over the Arsenal crowd, but since moving from midfield to centre-forward he has been instrumental to the improvement of Arsenal as an attacking force. Perhaps not clinical enough for some, Havertz still offers an important blend of running power, tactical understanding and security on the ball.
In a word: Evolution
11. Gabriel Jesus (2022 to present)
From: Manchester City (£45m)
Played: 105 Goals: 27 Assists: 21
In the words of Arteta, Jesus “changed Arsenal’s world” following his arrival in the summer of 2022. In that early period of his Arsenal career, Jesus did more than any other player to elevate the team from European contenders to genuine title challengers. Injuries and inconsistency have prevented him from maintaining his best form but he remains a leader and a game-breaker.
In a word: Spark
12-19: The game changers
12. Mikel Merino (2024 to present)
From: Real Sociedad (£32m)
Played: 73 Goals: 14 Assists: 8
It says plenty about Merino’s character that he was promoted to Arsenal’s leadership group this summer, after just one year at the club. The Spaniard is greatly admired internally and externally for the way he reinvented himself as a striker last season. He is now a better centre-forward than anyone could have ever expected (including himself) while remaining an intelligent and combative midfielder.
In a word: Smart
13. Aaron Ramsdale (2021 to 2024)
From: Sheffield United (£24m)
To: Southampton (£25m)
Played: 89 Clean sheets: 32
Ramsdale may have been dislodged by the superior Raya but he was still a successful signing. On the pitch, his ability on the ball added new layers to Arsenal’s game. Off the pitch, his character and personality helped to shift the mood at the club. He was hugely popular among the fans and played an important role in bringing them closer to the team. When Arsenal sold him to Southampton, they got their money back. Good business.
In a word: Transformational
14. Kieran Tierney (2019-2025)
From: Celtic (£25m)
To: Celtic (free)
Played: 144 Goals: 6 Assists: 14
Tierney is similar to Ramsdale, in the sense that he played a vital role as Arsenal transitioned from the post-Emery mess into the title challengers they are today. The Scotland international is known to have driven standards internally with his fierce approach to training, and for three seasons he was one of Arsenal’s most impressive players. He was loved by the fans and was central to Arsenal’s FA Cup win in 2020.
In a word: Spirit
15. Jorginho (2023-2025)
From: Chelsea (£12m)
To: Flamengo (free)
Played: 79 Goals: 2 Assists: 3
A class act on and off the pitch, even if he was never the main man at the base of Arsenal’s midfield. Jorginho more than justified his £12m fee and was a hugely important leader in the squad. On many occasions he was an additional coach on the sidelines, using his supreme tactical knowledge to direct play even as a substitute. He almost always played well when he was selected.
In a word: Wisdom
16. Riccardo Calafiori (2024 to present)
From: Bologna (£42m)
Played: 49 Goals: 4 Assists: 5
After a slightly wild and reckless first campaign, in which he was dogged by injury issues, Calafiori has settled very impressively into the left-back role this season. He has been more reliable and measured in his second year at Arsenal, becoming one of Arteta’s most consistent performers. A fabulous athlete, he roams all over the pitch when Arsenal have possession. He is beginning to justify the hefty fee.
In a word: Gallop
17. Martin Zubimendi (2025 to present)
From: Real Sociedad (£55m)
Played: 27 Goals: 3 Assists: 3
If Zubimendi continues as he has started at Arsenal, he will fly up this list at pace. The Spaniard has been excellent since joining from Real Sociedad, playing with all of the technical quality one would expect but also surprising fans with his dynamism in midfield. One of the overarching lessons of this season is that Arsenal play well as a team when Zubimendi plays well as an individual.
In a word: Brains
18. Thomas Partey (2020-2025)
From: Atletico Madrid (£45m)
To: Villarreal (free)
Played: 167 Goals: 9 Assists: 7
When fit, Partey was one of the standout midfielders in the league. Athletic and clever, he was capable of driving Arsenal forward and unlocking their attacking players. In 2022-23 and 2024-25 especially, he was exceptional. On a purely footballing level, he was unquestionably a signing who strengthened the squad. He will be most remembered, however, for off-field issues: Arsenal have faced heavy criticism for continuing to play Partey despite him being under investigation for rape and sexual assault. He was charged in July and pleaded not guilty in September.
In a word: Complicated
19. Oleksandr Zinchenko (2022 to present)
From: Manchester City (£30m)
To: On loan at Nottingham Forest
Played: 167 Goals: 9 Assists: 7
Zinchenko fell out of favour last season but it should not be forgotten that he was truly exceptional in his first campaign, when he brought a new level of control and tactical sophistication to Arsenal’s line-up. His ability to come into midfield and build play was crucial to the development of Martinelli and Granit Xhaka as attacking forces. The problem was never his ability on the ball but his deficiencies when defending against direct wingers.
In a word: Progression
20-28: Played their part
20. Jakub Kiwior (2023 to present)
From: Spezia (£18m)
To: On loan at Porto
Played: 68 Goals: 3 Assists: 5
Kiwior proved himself to be a competent back-up option when Gabriel was unavailable. On some occasions, such as against Real Madrid last year, he excelled in an Arsenal shirt. He is currently on loan at Porto and could join the Portuguese giants on a permanent basis next summer, for a fee that is similar to the £18m that Arsenal paid to sign him. If that sale happens, it would be a decent (albeit unspectacular) piece of business.
In a word: Solid
21. Takehiro Tomiyasu (2021-2025)
From: Bologna (£16m)
To: Released (now at Ajax)
Played: 84 Goals: 2 Assists: 6
When he was fit, Tomiyasu was an excellent, versatile defensive option. Few players are as comfortable across the back line, and the Japanese had all the physical ingredients required of an elite-level defender. The problem is that he was simply not available often enough, especially in the latter stages of his Arsenal career. His release in the summer was a sad moment.
In a word: Unfortunate
22. Bernd Leno (2018-2022)
From: Bayer Leverkusen (£22.5m)
To: Fulham (£8m)
Played: 125 Clean sheets: 37
Leno enjoyed three seasons as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper and he was largely an impressive shot-stopper. In the 2019-20 campaign, he came second in the club’s player of the season award, as voted for by the fans. His problem was a lack of quality with the ball at his feet. Arteta wanted a goalkeeper who could distribute more effectively. In selling him to Fulham in a deal worth £8m, Arsenal made a decent chunk of their money back.
In a word: Competent
23. David Luiz (2019-2021)
From: Chelsea (£8m)
To: Flamengo (free)
Played: 73 Goals: 4 Assists: 1
In the Premier League, Luiz was not a particularly successful addition to the Arsenal squad. His habit of conceding penalties and earning red cards was a frequent problem as Arteta tried to get to grips with the club. However, he ranks relatively highly in this list because of his brilliant performances in the FA Cup run of 2020. He was man of the match in the semi-final against Manchester City and also performed well in the final against Chelsea.
In a word: Erratic
24. Cristhian Mosquera (2025 to present)
From: Valencia (£13m)
Played: 16 Goals: 0 Assists: 0
These are early days for Mosquera in an Arsenal shirt yet the signs are highly encouraging. After 16 appearances it already feels like his £13m fee was a brilliant bargain. Quick, tall and capable of playing out from defence, he has demonstrated impressive character already. The challenge for the 21-year-old will be to one day force his way into the starting line-up, ahead of Saliba or Gabriel.
In a word: Promising
25. Dani Ceballos (2019-2021)
From: Real Madrid (loan)
To: Returned to Real Madrid
Played: 77 Goals: 2 Assists: 6
A wildly inconsistent player, Ceballos produced a handful of fabulous individual showings but also delivered some truly abysmal performances in midfield. He is not remembered particularly fondly by supporters but it should be recalled that, like Luiz, he played a huge role in Arsenal’s FA Cup glory in 2020. His first start for the club, against Burnley, was one of the most thrilling full debuts in recent Arsenal history.
In a word: Turbulent
26. Eberechi Eze (2025 to present)
From: Crystal Palace (£68m)
Played: 24 Goals: 5 Assists: 4
Eze only joined the club a few months ago but has already secured a lifelong place in the hearts of the supporters, thanks to his hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur (the club he turned down in favour of Arsenal) in November’s north London derby. His first half-season has produced a few other electrifying moments but he is yet to establish himself as a key figure at the Emirates.
In a word: Hat-trick
27. Matteo Guendouzi (2018-2022)
From: Lorient (£8m)
To: Marseille (£9m)
Played: 81 Goals: 1 Assists: 5
Arsenal’s recruitment department found a good young player in Guendouzi, who joined the club at the age of 19 and made an excellent first impression in north London. In his debut season with the club, Guendouzi made 48 appearances in all competitions. His problem was behavioural, and he soon clashed with Arteta after Emery was sacked. He was frozen out and then sold for a small profit.
In a word: Combustible
28. Lucas Torreira (2018-2022)
From: Sampdoria (£26m)
To: Galatasaray (£5m)
Played: 89 Goals: 4 Assists: 6
Torreira was an instant hit in his first season at Arsenal, when he produced a series of tough-tackling midfield performances. For a short while, he was a true fan favourite. But the Uruguayan’s time at the club soon turned sour, firstly because of bizarre mismanagement by Emery (who unsuccessfully tried Torreira, a holding midfielder, as a No 10) and also because of his off-field struggles to adapt to life in England.
In a word: Misunderstood
29-35: New signings and underwhelmers
29. Piero Hincapie (2025 to present)
From: Bayer Leverkusen (initial loan)
Played: 16 Goals: 0 Assists: 0
A multiple trophy-winner with Leverkusen, Hincapie has already demonstrated his aggression and physicality in an Arsenal shirt. His ability to play as a centre-back or left-back makes him a valuable asset for Arteta, and we can expect him to be rotated with Calafiori and Gabriel for the remainder of this season. He is all but guaranteed to join on a permanent basis for £45m in the summer.
In a word: Feisty
30. Noni Madueke (2025 to present)
From: Chelsea (£52m)
Played: 17 Goals: 3 Assists: 2
There have been encouraging signs in Madueke’s first few months as an Arsenal player, although it might take him some time to fully justify the £52m fee that secured his move from Chelsea. Madueke is capable of playing on both flanks but he has not nailed down a starting place in the Premier League. Overall, he has made decent progress on winning over the fans who reacted so badly to his arrival.
In a word: Potential
31. Sokratis Papastathopoulos (2018-2021)
From: Borussia Dortmund (£16m)
To: Olympiacos (free)
Played: 69 Goals: 6 Assists: 2
Sokratis was an important part of Arsenal’s defence under Emery and was a largely reliable, albeit limited, figure in his first season with the club. He also brought some leadership to a squad that needed it. Over time, though, his limitations became obvious. An old-school defender, he was never the right fit for Arteta’s system.
In a word: Rugged
32. Viktor Gyokeres (2025 to present)
From: Sporting Lisbon (£64m)
Played: 24 Goals: 7 Assists: 0
Perhaps Arsenal’s most hyped signing in the last decade, Gyokeres arrived this summer as the man who was supposed to solve the club’s striker problem and fire them to the Premier League title. These are still early days in his Arsenal career but, so far, his performances have not met any of those lofty expectations or justified his fee. Supporters are growing concerned that he either cannot adapt to Arsenal’s style of play, or that Arsenal will not adapt to him.
In a word: Scrutinised
33. Pablo Marí (2020-2023)
From: Flamengo (initial loan, then £8m)
To: Monza (£6m)
Played: 22 Goals: 1 Assists: 0
Marí became the first signing of the Arteta era when he joined the club on an initial loan in January 2020. A tall and powerful left-footed centre-back, he had many of the ingredients one would want of a top defender, although he did not always show it. Marí had some impressive games but was unfortunate with injuries and soon drifted out of the picture. Arsenal at least made most of the fee back through his sale.
In a word: Adequate
34. Matt Turner (2022-2023)
From: New England Revolution (£5.5m)
To: Nottingham Forest (£7m)
Played: 7 Goals: 0 Assists: 0
The best that can be said about Turner’s time at Arsenal is that the club made a small profit on him when he was sold to Nottingham Forest after one year. That fact alone makes him a passable signing, even if he never inspired much confidence in his few appearances for the first team.
In a word: Forgettable
35. Christian Norgaard
From: Brentford (£10m)
Played: 10 Goals: 0 Assists: 1
Norgaard is clever and old enough, at 31, to know his place in the hierarchy, and he knows he will probably not start many games if Zubimendi and Rice are fit. The former Brentford captain can still be an important member of the squad, though, and his leadership skills are one reason for his arrival this summer. When he has played, he has mostly held his own.
In a word: Depth
36-40: The forgettables
36. Nuno Tavares (2021-2025)
From: Benfica (£8m)
To: Lazio (£7m)
Played: 28 Goals: 1 Assists: 2
Tavares started well at Arsenal, demonstrating his running power and athleticism at left-back. But it was not to last, in large part because of his defensive fragility – he simply could not be trusted when Arsenal’s back four came under pressure. However, he is one of the few signings in recent years who has not represented a financial loss. Arsenal effectively made their money back on his sale, and also secured a sell-on fee of more than 25 per cent.
In a word: Raw
37. Kepa Arrizabalaga (2025-present)
From: Chelsea (£5m)
Played: 3 Clean sheets: 2
For just £5m, Kepa seems to be a sensible and shrewd signing. He has huge amounts of experience in Spain and England. In his three appearances so far, he has appeared to be the dependable goalkeeper that Arsenal expected him to be. It is only three appearances, though, so it is hard for him to push any higher up this list.
In a word: Steady
38. Cédric Soares (2020-2024)
From: Southampton (free)
To: São Paulo (free)
Played: 64 Goals: 2 Assists: 5
Cédric was mostly a back-up option for Arsenal and, in truth, was often a weak link in the defence when he did play. His most productive season was the 2021-22 campaign, when he made 21 appearances in the Premier League. Sadly for him, Arsenal lost more frequently when he played than when he did not.
In a word: Fringe
39. Marquinhos (2022-2025)
From: São Paulo (£3m)
To: Cruzeiro (£2.5m)
Played: 6 Goals: 1 Assists: 1
Signed from Brazil as a Martinelli-esque punt on an emerging talent, but failed to have much of an impact in north London. He made a total of six first-team appearances but rarely gave the impression that he was deserving of more. Arsenal made most of their money back when they sold him to Cruzeiro this summer.
In a word: Indifferent
40. Mathew Ryan (2021)
From: Brighton (loan)
To: Brighton (end of loan)
Played: 3 Clean sheets: 1
Signed as a back-up to Leno in January 2021, after falling out of favour at Brighton. Ryan made a total of three appearances for the club and will not live long in the memories of the Arsenal supporters. He will perhaps be best remembered for his involvement in Arsenal’s late equaliser against Fulham in April 2021, when he won a header from a corner.
In a word: Brief
41-49: The mistakes
41. Albert Sambi Lokonga
From: Anderlecht (£17m)
To: Hamburg (£0.3m)
Played: 39 Goals: 0 Assists: 0
Arsenal paid a chunky fee to bring Lokonga to the club when he was only 21, and he initially showed glimpses of why he was so highly rated in Belgium. But once he lost momentum, he never regained it. He went on to endure terrible bad luck with injuries while on various loans away from the club. Arsenal sold him on the cheap.
In a word: Unfulfilled
42. Neto (2024-2025)
From: Bournemouth (loan)
To: Bournemouth (end of loan)
Played: 1 Clean sheets: 0
Neto played only one game for Arsenal on his season-long loan from Bournemouth, and that was against Girona in the Champions League. It did not go well for the Brazilian, who conceded after being stranded a long way from his goal. By all accounts, Neto was at least a popular figure behind the scenes.
In a word: Unused
43. Raheem Sterling (2024-2025)
From: Chelsea (loan)
To: Chelsea (end of loan)
Played: 28 Goals: 1 Assists: 5
Sterling was a last-minute loan from Chelsea, with Arsenal paying only a relatively small fraction of his salary over the course of the season. In financial terms this was, therefore, an extremely low-risk deal. Sadly it never clicked on the pitch for Sterling at the Emirates Stadium, and he was soon outshone by teenage talent Ethan Nwaneri. Sterling never earned the affection of the supporters.
In a word: Anti-climactic
44. Fábio Vieira (2022 to present)
From: Porto (£34m)
To: On loan at Hamburg
Played: 49 Goals: 3 Assists: 10
Vieira ranks so low on this list because of the size of his transfer fee, which was north of £30m. If he cost £10m, then he might be considered an understandable gamble that did not pay off. There were bright moments for Vieira, who has a lovely left foot, but he has so far proven to be too lightweight and too inconsistent for the Premier League.
In a word: Overpriced
45. Stephan Lichtsteiner (2018-2019)
From: Juventus (free transfer)
To: Augsburg (free transfer)
Played: 23 Goals: 1 Assists: 1
Signed at the age of 34 towards the end of a hugely successful career, which included winning seven league titles for Juventus. Unfortunately for the right-back, the move to England came too late for him – he was consistently off the pace when playing in an Arsenal shirt.
In a word: Ageing
46. Denis Suárez (2019)
From: Barcelona (loan)
To: Barcelona (end of loan)
Played: 6 Goals: 0 Assists: 0
There was some excitement when Suárez arrived on loan from Barcelona but he was largely an irrelevance during his short stay in north London. He did not even play 100 minutes, with Emery clearly unconvinced that he could make any sort of meaningful impact on the pitch.
In a word: Pointless
47. Nicolas Pépé (2019-2023)
From: Lille (£72m)
To: Trabzonspor (free)
Played: 112 Goals: 27 Assists: 21
Some Arsenal fans will react angrily to Pépé being placed so low on this list. After all, he scored 27 goals for the club and helped them win the FA Cup. But it is simply impossible to look beyond the ludicrous price of this deal. Not only did Arsenal pay £72m to sign him, they ultimately paid an additional fee of around £18m to terminate his contract. The total cost of his transfer, including wages, was more than £100m. That may not be his fault, but it is his legacy.
In a word: Expensive
48. Runar Alex Runarsson (2020-2024)
From: Dijon (£1.5m)
To: Copenhagen (free)
Played: 6 Clean sheets: 3
A bizarre signing who was simply never at the required level for a club of Arsenal’s stature. His performance against Manchester City in the League Cup in 2020, which was littered with comical errors, was one of the worst individual showings by an Arsenal player in modern history. He is now a back-up option at Danish side Copenhagen.
In a word: Blunder
49. Willian (2020-2021)
From: Chelsea (free)
To: Corinthians (free)
Played: 37 Goals: 1: Assists: 7
The best that can be said about Willian’s time at Arsenal is that he at least did not demand the millions of pounds remaining on his contract when it was mutually terminated after one year. The Brazilian was a showpiece attacking signing, joining from Chelsea on huge wages, but his performances for Arsenal were truly abysmal. No spark, no speed, no passion, no quality. A failure made even more strange by his subsequent success at Fulham.
In a word: Flop