Julian Alvarez to Arsenal transfer truth explained and how a move could be completed

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The former Manchester City star could be one of the headline transfer stories of the summer, with Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea all in the race to sign the Atletico Madrid forward

Julian Alvarez reportedly favours a move to Arsenal over Barcelona, according to reports in Spain. The 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Arsenal and Chelsea as speculation continues to grow over his long‑term future at Atlético Madrid.

Spanish outlet El Nacional claim the Argentine has already made it clear to his camp that he does not want his agents to negotiate a move to Catalonia ahead of the summer transfer window.

Instead, he is said to be focusing all discussions on a destination he considers more stable at this moment, which is Arsenal.

The report adds that talks over a potential move to north London are already at an 'advanced' stage, with Alvarez seeking stability and continuity in a competitive long‑term project.

Arsenal are described as a club offering both sporting and contractual security, something Barcelona cannot fully guarantee due to the financial constraints still shaping their spending and planning.

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Barcelona are said to admire Alvarez, with his pressing ability, mobility and instinct for goal fitting their vision for strengthening the No. 9 position.

However, the deal was always surrounded by uncertainty, particularly financially and those concerns have ultimately 'cooled' any real possibility of a move.

From Arsenal's perspective, the report states that the club have moved quickly and decisively, with Alvarez viewing London as the ideal place to continue his development.

He is said to see a clear role for himself within the team and the chance to compete at the highest level across all competitions, just as he did at Manchester City.

football.london understands that while Arsenal's interest is genuine and the club are well‑placed to make a potential move, any deal would require a significant fee, meaning player sales will be essential this summer if they want to go big.

The summer of 2025 saw the Gunners make wholesale changes to their first team squad, splashing around £250million on seven new permanent signings, while Piero Hincapie arrived on a loan deal.

With the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Ben White linked with moves away, offloading some of these players would trim the wage bill and also generate the significant funds needed to pursue a major signing like Alvarez.