Barcelona are working to create enough room within their squad and financial limits to register Gabriel Jesus, with the Arsenal striker expected to join the Spanish champions in a deal worth about €14m.
The move has become the club’s immediate focus after Barcelona missed out on an agreement for Julian Alvarez at Atletico de Madrid. Jesus has now emerged as the preferred alternative, despite having been pushed out of Mikel Arteta’s plans at Arsenal this season.
Barcelona’s interest comes as Jesus approaches the final two years of his Arsenal contract. His current deal runs until 2027, and Arsenal are keen to sell rather than risk allowing his situation to run on without a transfer.
Jesus scored six goals in 27 appearances across all competitions last season, when Arsenal claimed the Premier League title. He is now expected to leave the London club, but his arrival at Barcelona could be delayed by the same registration difficulties that affected the club last season.
The Catalan club remain under pressure to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations before adding new players to their LaLiga squad. Similar issues forced manager Hansi Flick to deregister several players, including club captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, so that Barcelona could complete a number of signings ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
That precedent has increased concern over whether Jesus will be immediately available once his transfer is completed. Barcelona are still trying to balance the financial demands of the deal with the requirement to register their squad within the permitted limits.
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic has yet to be registered, despite joining Barcelona last week. His unresolved status underlines the scale of the club’s current problem and means Jesus could also face a wait before being cleared to play in LaLiga.
Barcelona are therefore expected to continue working on player departures before the transfer window closes on 1 September. The club’s ability to offload further players will be central to its plans, with space needed not only for Jesus but also to resolve the registration situation surrounding Livakovic.
The proposed transfer remains around €14m in total, but agreeing the fee is only part of the process. Barcelona must also ensure that the move fits within their financial regulations and that Jesus can be formally included in Flick’s squad.
Until those conditions are met, the striker’s move from Arsenal will remain incomplete from a sporting perspective. Barcelona’s priority is to secure the signing while avoiding another registration crisis, with Jesus potentially having to wait before making his LaLiga debut.