A report from the Daily Mirror has ranked all 23 deadline day signings made by Arsenal Football Club since the transfer window system began in 2002. The list includes record-breaking arrivals, surprise deals with rivals, and several players who failed to make an impact at the Emirates Stadium. This analysis arrives as Mikel Arteta's squad, which has added nearly £200m worth of talent this summer, sits second in the Premier League with six points from two wins, having scored four goals and conceded none. Their next challenge is a home fixture against Chelsea on September 6th.
Who were Arsenal's most successful deadline day signings?
Several late arrivals became cornerstones for the club. Mesut Özil's £42.5m move from Real Madrid in 2013 provided a decade of creative genius. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined for £56m from Borussia Dortmund in 2018, winning the Premier League Golden Boot and an FA Cup. Mikel Arteta's own £10m signing from Everton in 2011 proved historic, as he later returned as manager to lead the club to silverware. David Luiz, an £8m acquisition from Chelsea, played a key part in Arsenal's 2020 FA Cup triumph, the first trophy of the Arteta era. More recently, the £12m signing of Jorginho from Chelsea in 2023 provided vital experience in a title challenge.
Andrei Arshavin's £15m move from Zenit St Petersburg is remembered for his four-goal haul at Anfield in 2009. Nacho Monreal provided nearly a decade of reliable service after an £8.5m switch from Malaga. Thomas Partey's £45m arrival from Atletico Madrid solidified the midfield before his subsequent moves. The current squad's strong defensive record this season, with zero goals conceded, builds on a legacy of smart defensive additions tracked on our squad page.
Which deadline day deals failed to deliver for Arsenal?
Not every last-minute gamble paid off. The 2013 loan of goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano from Palermo is infamous, as the Italian did not play a single competitive minute. Kim Källström arrived on loan from Spartak Moscow in 2014 carrying a back injury, though he did score a penalty in an FA Cup semi-final shoot-out. Cedric Soares' 2020 loan from Southampton stretched to a four-year stay with few standout contributions.
Raheem Sterling's loan from Chelsea yielded just one goal. Lassana Diarra was bought from Chelsea for £2m in 2007 but was sold to Portsmouth within six months. Denilson, a £3.4m signing from Sao Paulo, faded after a promising start as a teenager. Takehiro Tomiyasu's £16m move from Bologna ended with a transfer to Crystal Palace after mixed fortunes. You can review the club's current league position, where they are 2nd, on our standings page.
How did loan signings and exchanges work out?
Arsenal have frequently used the loan market on deadline day with varying success. The 2006 exchange deal saw Julio Baptista arrive from Real Madrid with José Antonio Reyes moving in the opposite direction. Yossi Benayoun scored six goals during a productive loan from Chelsea in 2011. More recently, the 2026 loan of Piero Hincapié from Bayer Leverkusen was a success, helping the club win the league.
Kieran Tierney's £25m signing from Celtic was technically a deadline day deal, though he later spent a year on loan in Spain. William Gallas joined in a memorable 2006 part-exchange from Chelsea that involved Ashley Cole moving to Stamford Bridge. These strategic moves have helped shape a squad that now boasts a perfect record and a +4 goal difference early in the 2026-27 campaign.
What does this history mean for the current squad?
The legacy of deadline day is a mix of transformative hits and costly misses. It underscores the high-risk, high-reward nature of last-minute transfers. Manager Mikel Arteta, himself a former deadline day signing, knows the value of a player who fits the system. He once said of a player, "He’s a warrior, He will play through brick walls for you, and he’s one of the most competitive players that I have had."
This historical context frames the club's present, where a strong start has been built on both marquee signings and shrewd acquisitions. The focus now shifts to maintaining that form, with all upcoming matches detailed on our fixtures list. Arsenal prepare to host London rivals Chelsea, who are currently 4th in the table, this coming Sunday.
