I Took Significant Pay Cut To Join Barcelona —Jesus

Gabriel Jesus was happy to take a reduction in wages in order to sign for Barcelona.

The Spanish champions, who have started their LaLiga campaign with three straight wins, completed the signing of Jesus from Arsenal on Tuesday.

Jesus has signed a three-year contract at Barca, who have reportedly paid an initial €10m, though add-ons could take that figure to €15 million.

The Brazilian joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022, though he struggled to keep fully fit during his time with the Gunners.

He made 123 appearances and scored 32 goals for Arsenal, from chances worth a combined 36.9 expected goals.

And Jesus has revealed he took a wage cut in order to push through a dream move.

“I took a significant salary drop, but it’s a dream to be here,” Jesus confirmed at his presentation (via beinSPORTS).

“But it wasn’t just me who had to make an effort to get the transfer over line, Barça also played their part.

“If you had asked me one month ago, I would have said it was unlikely this would happen. At 29, I didn’t think I would have the chance to come to Barca.”

Jesus is Barca’s seventh signing of the summer, and joins Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi in boosting the Blaugrana’s forward options.

Barca had been hoping to sign Julian Alvarez, but Atletico Madrid refused to sell the Argentine.

Asked if he was disturbed by being an apparent second-choice target, Jesus said: “It doesn’t annoy me, it doesn’t bother me.

“What annoys me is if people say I’m a bad guy, which has never happened in my life, or if I am not playing football, that bothers me.

“I have the chance to play for Barcelona, a chance I had 10 years ago and now life has offered me that opportunity again.”