Rating Arsenal's top ten most expensive signings ever - including £72m flop and ex-Borussia Dortmund hero

Arsenal spent massive money on several huge new signings this summer as Mikel Arteta’s side hope to finally get their hands on an elusive first Premier League title in over 20 years.

During that time, the Gunners have often looked to strengthen and build a squad capable of competing for the highest honours. There have been some big-money signings along the way, some of which have been a resounding success, while others fell by the wayside to be forgotten men in Arsenal’s history.

Not traditionally the biggest spenders in the Premier League amidst the wealth of the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea, the Gunners have begun to spend more regularly in recent summers under Arteta, as their need for glory grows.

We decided to have a look at Arsenal’s 10 most expensive signings of all time and rated how each headline signing did during their time playing at the Emirates.

Goal-scoring duo star in Arsenal’s top 10 most expensive signings

10) Ben White - £50m from Brighton & Hove Albion, 2021: White swapped the south coast for north London and has seen his position shift from centre-back to right-back under Arteta. This shift happened during 2022/23, with White shining in the role for two seasons. His progress has been slowed by knee surgery, which he underwent last year. Rating: 7/10

9) Noni Madueke - £52m from Chelsea, 2025: Madueke signed from Chelsea in the summer to fan backlash but has silenced critics with strong early-season performances. Signed as an understudy to Bukayo Saka, we will see if he can stake his claim to a starting role once Saka returns to full fitness. Rating: N/A

8) Alexandre Lacazette - £52.6m from Lyon, 2017: Signed as one of the most prolific strikers in Europe, having struck 37 goals the previous season. ‘Laca’, as he was often known, was a hit in north London, scoring 50 Premier League goals in his first four seasons. His return dropped in his fifth and final year at the club ahead of a return to Lyon. Rating: 7/10

7) Martin Zubimendi - £55.8m from Real Sociedad, 2025: The Spain international was courted by Arsenal for several months before eventually signing in July 2025 for slightly above Sociedad’s £52m release clause. Scored twice against Nottingham Forest including a long-range screamer, as he settles into life at the Emirates nicely. Rating: N/A

6) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - £56m from Borussia Dortmund, 2018: Aubameyang became Arsenal’s record signing at the time in January 2018 and had a sky-high reputation after 141 goals at Dortmund. The Gabon international lived up to the hype for his first few years, winning the Golden Boot with 22 goals in 2018/19 before matching his total but missing out on the award to Jamie Vardy by a single goal the following campaign. Also played a key role as Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2020, with winning goals in the semi-final and the final, before he was eventually frozen out by Arteta. Rating: 8/10

Arsenal’s five most expensive signings ever

5) Viktor Gyokeres - £64.2m from Sporting CP, 2025: Gyokeres was signed with the task of becoming the missing piece to the title-winning puzzle up front. He has begun the season with three goals so is doing his job well thus far. Rating: N/A

4) Kai Havertz - £65m from Chelsea, 2023: Havertz, similarly to Madueke, signed from London rivals Chelsea to the sound of confusion around the fanbase. Arteta evidently saw something in the German, though, and he has been reliable if not a game-changer. Will likely have a role to play if Arsenal do get their hands on silverware this season. Rating: 6/10

3) Eberechi Eze - £67.5m from Crystal Palace, 2025: The biggest signing in a summer of marquee moves, boyhood fan Eze returned to the club he was released by as a boy after becoming a Premier League star at Palace. An added bonus was that the Gunners hijacked a move by arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Rating: N/A

2) Nicolas Pepe - £72m from Lille, 2019: Unfortunately the poster boy when it comes to big-money flops at the Emirates in recent years. Scoring 27 goals in three years is not terrible. But considering his club-record transfer fee and his 22 Ligue 1 goals the previous season, in addition to the fact that he eventually departed for free with a year left on his contract, he was a monumental waste of money. Rating: 3/10

1) Declan Rice - £105m from West Ham United, 2023: Arsenal’s record signing and likely to remain that way for some time, Declan Rice has arguably been worth every penny after his move from east to north London. He stunned the footballing world with his two free-kicks in Champions League quarter-final victory over Real Madrid last season - now, all he needs to do is inspire the Gunners to go all the way. Rating: 8/10