Arsenal's record sale remains at just £35 million, a figure that underscores a persistent challenge for sporting director Andrea Berta as the club seeks to compete with rivals in the transfer market. Only three other Premier League sides—Sunderland, Hull, and Coventry—have lower record sales.
This summer, Arsenal have completed three permanent exits—Karl Hein, Jakub Kiwior, and Leandro Trossard—raising less than £40 million combined. Meanwhile, the club has already spent around £34 million on Piero Hincapie and Christos Tzolis, with a move for Bruno Guimaraes expected to more than double that outlay.
Top 10 Arsenal Sales
The top four spots on Arsenal's list of most lucrative sales are occupied by transfers from the Arsene Wenger era, highlighting the club's struggle to keep pace with the big-money exits orchestrated by Chelsea and Manchester City. Here are the 10 most profitable offloadings, per Transfermarkt figures.
10. Joe Willock (£25.2m)
Willock's move to Newcastle followed a productive loan spell at St James' Park, where he scored eight goals, driving up his value. As a permanent Newcastle player, he hasn't matched that tally across over 100 games, with his role becoming less attacking under Eddie Howe. Last season, he struggled to displace Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.
9. Eddie Nketiah (£25.4m)
Nketiah demonstrated his Premier League pedigree with a hat-trick against Sheffield United in 2023, prompting Crystal Palace to make a big-money bid. The striker, competing with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for opportunities, decided to move. His second season at Selhurst Park was cut short by injury, and he will hope for a fresh start under new boss Pierre Sage.
8. Folarin Balogun (£25.7m)
Balogun, like Nketiah, sought more regular first-team football. After a 21-goal Ligue 1 season at Reims, he moved to Monaco for a good fee. The United States international top-scored for his club last term and thrived at the World Cup, though there's no guarantee he would have developed at the same pace in North London.
7. Alex Iwobi (£26m)
Academy graduate Iwobi scored in the 2019 Europa League final defeat to Chelsea and played 100 league games for Arsenal, but the arrival of Nicolas Pepe made him expendable. After a tough start at Everton, he has thrived at Fulham under Marco Silva in a deeper midfield role.
6. Robin van Persie (£26.3m)
Manchester United paid £26 million for Van Persie in 2012, a deal worth more then than now. The move was dramatic, with fans turning on the Dutch striker. After helping United win the league title, his subsequent two years were less fruitful, and he left for Fenerbahce in 2015.
5. Emile Smith Rowe (£27.2m)
Academy graduate Smith Rowe made a fast start as a teenager but was overtaken in the pecking order under Mikel Arteta. He left for Fulham in 2024, with Mikel Merino brought in as his replacement. He has been a solid presence in Fulham's midfield but hasn't earned a Three Lions recall.
4. Cesc Fabregas (£29.1m)
Fabregas's 2011 sale to Barcelona remains in the top five. Since then, Chelsea have sold 20 players for more money. Fabregas later joined Chelsea in 2014 for a similar amount, winning two Premier League titles, and has made an impressive start to his managerial career with Como.
3. Alexis Sanchez (£29.1m)
Sanchez's move to United in 2018 was part of an effective swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Arsenal came out slightly better, but neither club had huge success from the arrangement. This sale is included to emphasize the task facing Berta.
2. Nicolas Anelka (£30m)
Anelka's sale in 1999, for a reported £30 million, is a testament to Arsenal's ability to turn a huge profit on a player signed for less than £1 million. He went on to make over 500 career league appearances across several countries and played for France at major tournaments.
1. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£35m)
Arsenal's record sale remains the £35 million received from Liverpool in 2017 for Oxlade-Chamberlain. The England international won the Premier League and Champions League at Anfield but was plagued by injury, making just 103 league appearances in six years. He left for Besiktas on a free transfer in 2023 and is now at Celtic.
