Arsenal's top 10 biggest sales of all time; Robin van Persie, Anelka & more
The Gunners have sold many big stars in their annals.
Even Arsenal, one of the most prosperous and well-liked teams in English football, must occasionally acknowledge that its best players may wish to pursue other opportunities.
Star players have chosen to leave Arsenal at various points in the north London club’s illustrious history, and the Premier League team has been compensated with some incredible sums of money.
But more frequently than not, the Gunners have lost important players to Premier League rivals.
The top ten sales Arsenal have ever made are listed below:
10. Eddie Nketiah – €29.7m (to Crystal Palace, 2024)
After not being able to establish himself as a consistent No. 9 option, Eddie Nketiah left Arsenal in 2024. The striker, who attended the academies of Chelsea and Arsenal, craved a change of scenery when Crystal Palace paid €29.7 million to sign him. Nketiah’s debut season at his new club was disappointing, though, as the issue remained at Selhurst Park.
9. Folarin Balogun – €30m (to AS Monaco, 2023)
Following a fruitful loan stint with Reims in the 2022–2023 season, Folarin Balogun came back to Arsenal with a point to prove. But Mikel Arteta already had Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus to decide between, and the joining of Kai Havertz moved Balogun further down the hierarchy.
The American international wanted to go because he was unhappy playing as a bench warmer. AS Monaco won the race to recruit him for €30 million.
8. Alex Iwobi – €30.4m (to Everton, 2019)
By the time he departed to join Everton, Alex Iwobi had established himself as a mainstay at Arsenal. But the Gunners were more than glad to let go of the Nigerian when they received a €30.4 million offer for his services. Iwobi earned 149 appearances for Arsenal prior to leaving, and he scored in their 4-1 Europa League final defeat to Chelsea, which was also his final game there.
In 2023, he left Everton to join Fulham, and the Craven Cottage team had to pay €25.7 million to get him back to London.
7. Robin van Persie – €30.7m (to Man Utd, 2012)
Robin van Persie, like Thierry Henry before him, became the most vital member of Arsenal and one of the world’s top attackers before choosing to go in pursuit of trophies.
Arsenal quickly negotiated terms to move the Dutch forward to Premier League rivals Manchester United after he said in 2012 that he would not be signing a contract deal. Van Persie gladly accepted a four-year agreement.
After moving for €30.7 million, the striker’s first season at Old Trafford saw him win his first English Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson.
6. Emile Smith Rowe – €31.8m (to Fulham, 2024)
In the past, Emile Smith Rowe was seen to be among the best players at Arsenal’s Hale End academy. After playing well for Arsenal in the 2021–2022 season, the attacking midfielder had to spend a lot of time recovering from an injury.
Smith Rowe departed Arsenal in the summer of 2024 after spending two seasons on the bench. He was never able to get back his starting position.
He cost Fulham an incredible €31.8 million. But it was a wise investment because he had a great debut season with the Cottagers.
5. Cesc Fabregas – €34m (to Barcelona, 2011)
Cesc Fabregas joined Arsenal as a youngster and went on to become one of the world’s best midfielders. But his time there was always marred by the worry that he would eventually return to Barcelona. In 2011, that is precisely what happened.
Fabregas was instrumental in assisting Barca win the Spanish Cup in his first season and LaLiga in his second after joining the Catalan team. In 2014, he moved back to England to join Chelsea, their fierce rivals, which did not help his standing with Arsenal supporters.
4. Alexis Sanchez – €34m (to Man Utd, 2018)
When Alexis Sanchez joined Manchester United in 2018, he thought that the team would contend for the Premier League title, something that never happened. Sanchez was instrumental in Arsenal’s FA Cup victories in 2015 and 2016.
But the Chilean international was far from his prime when he joined Old Trafford, and in 32 Premier League games for the Red Devils, he only managed three goals.
Sanchez, on the other hand, made 166 appearances while at Arsenal, scoring 80 goals and dishing out 45 assists.
3. Nicolas Anelka – €35m (to Real Madrid, 1999)
When Nicolas Anelka first joined Arsenal’s first squad, he was nothing short of a sensation. He was instrumental in the team’s 1997–98 Premier League and FA Cup double.
Anelka quickly earned a reputation as “Le Sulk” despite his stellar goal totals. When Real Madrid made a high-profile offer in 1999, Arsenal accepted it, albeit grudgingly. Later on, the France striker acknowledged that he should have never left the Gunners.
2. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – €38m (to Liverpool, 2017)
When Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain moved from Southampton to Arsenal, he was one of England’s brightest young forwards. He soon established himself as a vital player of the north London team.
Oxlade-Chamberlain made 198 games and won three FA Cups during his seven seasons at the Emirates Stadium. But in 2017, after Chelsea also showed interest, the England international was lured away by Liverpool as the Gunners accepted a €38 million offer.
Despite being a valuable member of Jürgen Klopp’s team, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s influence at Anfield was severely curtailed by injury. He left on a free transfer in 2023.
1. Marc Overmars – €40m (to Barcelona, 2000)
Although Marc Overmars only played for Arsenal for three years, the Dutch winger was a gifted player whose lightning-fast speed helped the team achieve a domestic double under Arsene Wenger in 1997–98.
But there wasn’t much Arsenal could do in 2000 when Barcelona called. Overmars agreed to join the Spanish team because they knew he was eager to play for them.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.
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