The Gunners have signed Brazilian youth international Marquinhos on a long-term contract, the club confirmed on Monday night. They paid Sao Paulo a fee in the region of 3.5 million euros to bring the 19-year-old on board after he had rejected multiple offers from his boyhood club to renew his contract, which would’ve expired this summer.
The forward made his debut for Sao Paulo as an 18-year-old last July before adding 40 further appearances to his tally over the year. He scored four goals during his time at the club, three of which he netted in 18 appearances in 2022.
Arsenal technical director Edu Gaspar spoke of Marquinhos’s talent upon the confirmation of his signing, claiming that the forward had been on the club’s shortlist for some time.
His signing marks the third time in recent years the Gunners have dipped into the Brazilian market after previously securing deals for striker Gabriel Martinelli and centre-back Pablo Mari.
“We’re delighted to have completed the transfer with Sao Paulo, as Marquinhos was a player we had been watching for a while. At 19, he is still very young, so he is a player for the future.
We look forward to Marquinhos now joining us for pre-season, making his new home, and continuing to grow and develop with us,”
Edu said.
Arsenal’s capture of Marquinhos remains a point of contention for fellow Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers, who believed they had secured an agreement with the attacker over a free transfer at the end of the season.
The Midlands outfit had even laid out a plan for the integration of the youngster into their first team, which would’ve involved spending his first season in Europe on loan at sister club Grasshopper Club Zurich.
Wolves are now seeking legal advice against the player but could also explore options for taking legal action against Arsenal and Sao Paulo.
