Vinícius Júnior has signed a contract extension with Real Madrid through 2032, a move that left Arsenal frustrated after the English club had hoped to sign the Brazilian forward for Mikel Arteta's squad.
Real Madrid announced the agreement officially on Thursday afternoon, August 6. Vinícius Júnior's previous contract had been set to run until June 2027. Reports had speculated Arsenal could offer around 888 million reais for the player.
English press reaction
The Sun reported that Arsenal suffered a hard blow in the transfer market after Vinícius Jr. signed a new contract worth 500,000 pounds a week with Real Madrid, following talks involving José Mourinho. The outlet said negotiations had stalled for months, opening the door for Arsenal to make an ambitious approach, but that a meeting last Wednesday between his agents and Real Madrid's leadership, with Mourinho's help, settled the matter for good.
The Mirror noted that Arsenal had grown increasingly optimistic about completing a deal for the Brazilian. The paper said the saga over Vinícius Jr.'s possible move to Arsenal ended once the star signed his new deal with Real, adding that the Gunners had been confident of pulling off the high-profile signing but that the player would now stay in Spain.
The Daily Mail reported that the Brazilian put pen to paper on a five-year deal with Real Madrid, leaving Arsenal, who had hoped to sign him, disappointed. The paper added that the forward committed long-term to the Spanish club despite having signaled he would be willing to move to the Premier League had he failed to reach an agreement with Real.
Career at Real Madrid
Vinícius Júnior joined Real Madrid in 2018 after rising through the ranks at Flamengo as a teenager. At the Spanish club, he has won 14 titles and was named FIFA's best player in the world in 2024.
