Arsenal’s biggest ever transfer sales as Smith Rowe nears exit

Arsenal are close to agreeing the sale of Emile Smith Rowe to Premier League rivals Fulham, with the Cottagers having submitted a club-record bid for the out-of-favour midfielder.

The fee involved could earn Arsenal a record windfall, which would be a significant boost to the club’s coffers.

Ahead of Smith Rowe’s proposed transfer to Fulham, we’ve looked at the five most expensive transfer sales in Arsenal’s history.

5. Alex Iwobi (£34m)

Everton finalised a Deadline Day swoop for Alex Iwobi in 2019, securing the services of the midfielder for an initial £28m, rising to £34m with add-ons.

Iwobi had come through the ranks at Arsenal and made 149 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 15 times, but failed to establish himself as a regular in the side.

His move to Everton earned Iwobi greater opportunities and he was named the Toffees Player of the Season in 2022-23. That summer he returned to London, joining Fulham for a fee of £22m.

4. Folarin Balogun (£34.3m)

Another academy product offloaded for a sizeable fee, Arsenal sanctioned the sale of Folarin Balogun to AS Monaco for £34.3m in 2023.

The forward made just two league appearances for Arsenal but a prolific season on loan at Reims saw him score 21 Ligue 1 goals to put himself in the shop window. Monaco made Balogun the fourth-most expensive player in their history, behind only James Rodriguez, Radamel Falcao and Wissam Ben Yedder.

The USMNT international scored eight times in 34 appearances during his debut season at The Stade Louis II.

3. Alexis Sanchez (£35m)

Alexis Sanchez was a hugely popular player at Arsenal with his exit leaving a sour taste. The Chile international was a big hit after he arrived from Barcelona in a £34m deal, scoring 80 goals in 166 games for the Gunners to emerge as one of the Premier League’s best forwards.

However, he pushed for an exit as his contract wound down and forced Arsenal into a high-profile swap deal with Manchester United. Sanchez headed to Old Trafford with Henrikh Mkhitaryan moving in the opposite direction in a deal valued at £35m. Neither player made an overly memorable impact in their new surroundings.

2. Cesc Fabregas (£35m)

Another heart-wrenching exit for Arsenal fans, the lure of Barcelona proved too strong for Cesc Fabregas in 2011.

Fabregas had left the Spanish side in search of opportunity as a teenager and broke into the Arsenal team in impressively. He set several records, becoming Arsenal’s youngest-ever first-team player, aged 16 years and 177, and later the club’s youngest goalscorer.

The Spaniard’s evolution into one of the Premier League’s best saw him twice win Arsenal’s Player of the Season award and the 2007-08 PFA Young Player of the Year, before inheriting the captaincy in North London.

After 303 appearances, 57 goals, and 94 trademark assists, Arsenal couldn’t keep him from the clutches of Catalonia.

1. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£35m)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ranks as Arsenal’s joint-highest sale, after joining Liverpool in a £35m deal in 2017.

The midfielder spent seven seasons with Arsenal and made 198 appearances in all competitions before departing for Liverpool in search of a new challenge and silverware.

Oxlade-Chamberlain completed a clean sweep of major honours at Anfield, though his time with the club was punctuated by fitness problems. He played just 103 league games in six seasons with the Reds before a free transfer move to Besiktas in 2023.

Read – Osimhen to break the record? Serie A’s most expensive sales

See more – Iconic Performances: Thierry Henry’s irresistible display at Inter

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