Arsenal transfer statement made as club chief confirms stance on £45m star

Palmeiras president Leila Pereira has named Gabriel Jesus as the club's dream signing ahead of the January transfer window. The 28-year-old striker, who Arsenal signed from Manchester City for £45million during the summer of 2022, has only recently returned to training on the grass as he looks to rebuild his fitness following an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Despite this, Jesus has attracted interest from his boyhood club. In an interview with Esporte Record, Pereira openly admitted her admiration for for the Brazil international, sharing her plan to bring him back to the Allianz Parque in São Paulo.

Jesus made a name for himself as one of the most exciting young players in South America during his time at Palmeiras. Manchester City forked out £27million plus add-ons for the then-19-year-old, securing his signature ahead of numerous top European clubs.

"Of course Gabriel Jesus," said the Palmeiras president. "And I'll say more. Soon you're coming back home, Gabriel! One day you'll return!"

Jesus suffered his ACL injury during the Gunners' defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round at the start of 2025. The Brazilian had been enjoying a rich vein of form, scoring three goals in his previous four Premier League games.

Earlier in the festive period, he had also scored a hat-trick against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals. Shortly after leaving the Emirates Stadium on a stretcher, Jesus underwent surgery on his knee.

In March, Jesus broke his silence on social media to announce that he had successfully completed the first seven weeks of his rehabilitation programme. He has since returned to training at the Sobha Realty Centre.

However, Mikel Arteta reckons Jesus may not be available for selection until January. Speaking to reporters earlier this month, the Arsenal boss said: "He had major surgery that was going to take him many, many months.

"So, after discussing that with the medical staff and understanding the schedule that we had and when we thought that he could be available, that it would be between December and January, we decided to make that call, like we've done in the past with other players.

"Hopefully, we did it wrong and he comes back earlier. But at the moment, the provision was very clear."

Speaking to club media in January 2025, Jesus outlined his ambition to win the Premier League with Arsenal. The Brazilian was an English champion on four separate occasions with Manchester City before he arrived at the Emirates Stadium.

"You can see the motivation because the feeling to win a trophy like the Premier League, everyone knows how tough it is," Jesus said. "When you’ve already won it, you just think I want it again, again and again.

"Arsenal did amazing in the past and we want to come back, so we as players, we want to go there and pay back what they have done and to fight for the fans as well."

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