Arsenal have banked £122m in UEFA prize money after beating Atletico Madrid to reach the Champions League final, but the club are still planning for a summer that includes sales as well as signings. The final is in Budapest on May 30 against either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain. Sky Sports says Arsenal’s view is clear: the money helps, but it does not remove the need to manage the window carefully.
Why the Champions League money does not change the plan
The key point is that Arsenal are not in emergency territory. A club source said they are “not in a position where they have to sell before they can buy”, but added that sales will be necessary over the course of the window, with sustainability a priority. Another source said Arsenal want to come out of the summer with a more even balance sheet than last year, by “trading players out as well as in”.
That stance makes sense after last summer’s spending. Arsenal put £267m into eight new signings and generated only £10m in sales, leaving a £257m net spend. That is a huge outlay by any standard, and it explains why the club are now talking about balancing recruitment with departures rather than simply adding more bodies.
The Premier League’s new squad cost ratio rule is also part of the picture. The brief does not suggest Arsenal are boxed in, but it does show why the club are treating sales as part of the same conversation as new signings. The extra UEFA money gives them more room, not a blank cheque.
Who could shape the summer window
The early signs are that Arsenal still want to strengthen in attack, central midfield and at full-back. That is where the transfer work appears to be focused, even if the club are also preparing to move players on.
Jakub Kiwior is expected to depart after Porto activated their clause to sign him for £19m, although the brief also says the permanent transfer is still expected to be formalised. That is the kind of outgoing Arsenal need if they want this summer to look more controlled than the last one.
Julian Alvarez is one of the names in the frame, with Atletico Madrid said to value him at around £130m after signing him from Manchester City for £82m in 2024. That is a serious price tag, which tells you what kind of market Arsenal are looking at if they go after elite attacking options.
This is a sensible place for Arsenal to be. They have the cash from a strong European run, but they also have a recent spending pattern that makes sales useful rather than optional. The Champions League windfall improves the position, it does not erase the arithmetic.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
