Barcelona Signs Gabriel Jesus After Nearly a Decade

Barcelona finally have Gabriel Jesus.

In a late twist to the window, the Arsenal forward has signed for Barça in a deal worth 10 million euros, a move few inside the club expected after talks for Julián Álvarez collapsed when Atlético de Madrid refused to negotiate. For weeks it looked like Xavi would go without a new striker. Then the Brazilian opportunity reappeared.

This is not a new love story. It is one that has taken almost a decade to close.

The one that got away in 2016

Back in 2016, when Gabriel Jesus was exploding at Palmeiras, Barcelona had already marked his name in red. Robert Fernández, then sporting director, flew to Brazil to watch him live. The reports were glowing. The feeling at the club was that they were tracking the next big Brazilian star.

But so was half of Europe.

Gabriel Jesus had offers and, more importantly, options. He knew it. The clubs knew it. The decision was never going to be simple.

Barcelona tried to play their strongest card: Neymar.

Both were part of the Brazil squad preparing for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. During that camp, Neymar, already a Barça star, took on the role of recruiter. He spoke directly to Gabriel Jesus, selling him the idea of the Camp Nou, the lifestyle, the fit.

“Neymar told me about the city, that the climate was similar to Brazil, and it made me hesitate,” Gabriel Jesus later admitted.

In an interview with The Sun, he went deeper into that moment of doubt: “It was a difficult moment when I had to choose a team. Neymar knows what it’s like to be young and have several European clubs want you. He told me about what Barcelona was like, about the city. And he told me the climate is similar to Brazil’s. He made me hesitate because Barça is also a great club, but I realized that I could go to another big club with more chances to play.”

Barcelona had the badge, the style, Neymar’s pitch. It still wasn’t enough.

Pep’s call that changed everything

The “other big club” he mentioned was Manchester City. And that is where the story first slipped away from Barça.

What tipped the scales? A phone call.

“I saw that City was really interested in me after speaking with Pep on the phone,” Gabriel Jesus said.

Pep Guardiola didn’t just send scouts or intermediaries. He called the player himself, laid out the project, the role, the trust. For a young forward looking for minutes and development, it carried enormous weight. The result was clear: he chose the Premier League and turned his back on Barcelona.

From there, the paths diverged. Gabriel Jesus went on to win titles with City, then moved to Arsenal. Barcelona rebuilt and reshaped their attack with others.

Now, years later, the move that once slipped through their fingers is finally done. The fee is modest at 10 million euros, the context very different, but the name is the same.

Back then, Neymar and Pep battled over his future. This time, Barcelona arrive without a rival in sight—and with a striker who once hesitated at the door now walking straight through it.