Following his new contract, Arsenal will no longer be able to sign Vinicius Junior. The Gunners are now expected to move on to new targets.
Arsenal’s ambitious pursuit of Vinicius Jr has officially come to an end after the Brazilian decided to commit his future to Real Madrid with a new long-term contract.
🚨⚪️ BREAKING: Vinicius Jr has SIGNED new contract at Real Madrid until June 2032!
SIX years contract, confirmed. 💣🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/M9NJOhKpvz
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 6, 2026
While Arsenal made a serious attempt to tempt one of the world’s best players to the Emirates, the move was always viewed as an opportunistic signing rather than a deal the club was relying on to shape its summer.
Instead of dwelling on the disappointment, Arsenal have already shifted their attention to other attacking targets as Mikel Arteta looks to build a squad capable of defending the Premier League title and competing for the Champions League.
Julian Alvarez heads Arsenal’s attacking shortlist
With Vinicius now out of reach, Arsenal are expected to accelerate plans to sign another elite attacker.
One of the biggest names under consideration is Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez. The Argentine has long been admired by Arsenal’s recruitment team, and the club are closely monitoring his situation in Spain in case an opportunity presents itself.
🚨 Julian Álvarez is now reportedly open to joining Arsenal, although his preference remains to stay in Spain. 👀
Arsenal are pushing to get the deal done before pre-season, with competition for the striker now appearing to have cooled. ⏳
Andrea Berta is leading Arsenal’s… pic.twitter.com/jUv61afhKa
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) July 13, 2026
Athletic Club winger Nico Williams continues to be firmly on Arsenal’s radar despite interest from several European giants.
The Spanish international possesses the pace, dribbling ability and directness that Arsenal occasionally lacked in wide areas last season. His ability to stretch defences and create one-on-one situations makes him an attractive option if a deal becomes financially viable.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola is another player being closely monitored. Although Liverpool are also interested, Arsenal remain admirers of the French winger, whose explosive pace and technical quality could immediately improve the left side of Arteta’s attack.
Rodrygo, Yildiz and Nusa On Shortlist
Arsenal’s shortlist extends beyond just a couple of names.
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has been considered should his situation change in Spain, while Juventus youngster Kenan Yildiz is highly rated internally for his creativity, technical quality and ability to operate across multiple attacking positions.
RB Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa is another exciting profile Arsenal have followed. The Norwegian international has developed into one of Europe’s brightest young wingers and fits the club’s preference for signing players with both immediate quality and long-term potential.
