Arsenal summer transfer window 2025: Top targets, budget, most likely signings and priority positions

The second-placed curse struck again for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal in the 2024-25 Premier League season, as in the manager's own words, the Gunners went backwards from the 2023-24 campaign.

Finishing with 15 fewer points would certainly suggest so as the Gunners ceded the crown to Liverpool with a whimper, but reaching the Champions League semi-finals at least signalled progress in Europe.

In any case, Arteta has been backed significantly in the market once again this summer, and the club have welcomed seven new faces for combined fees in the region of £270m, a number that could top £300m if a deal for Piero Hincapie is finalised.

The Londoners kicked off their top-flight campaign by beating Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford, but their performance was unconvincing, and their forwards - including new striker Viktor Gyokeres - had an afternoon to forget.

Putting that performance in the past, the Gunners enjoyed a much brighter second matchday, starting with the unveiling of new signing Eberechi Eze, followed by a 5-0 battering of Leeds United, which included a Gyokeres brace and a debut for the highly-rated Max Dowman, who also won a penalty.

However, Arteta's side were beaten 1-0 by title rivals Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, and while the contest was close-fought, the defeat extended the club's winless run at Anfield that has lasted since 2012-13.

Here, Sports Mole assesses Arsenal's top targets, budget, most likely signings and priority positions for the 2025 window.

Arsenal's top targets for 2025 summer transfer window

Arsenal were initially torn between Gyokeres and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, whom they had tried and failed to bring to the English capital last summer before he penned a new contract with the German giants.

There was an expectation that Sesko would be allowed to leave Leipzig for a suitable fee this summer, but Die Roten Bullen allegedly played hardball in negotiations, forcing Arsenal to swerve for the Sporting number nine instead.

Newcastle United's Alexander Isak was the dream for Arteta, but the Sweden international is expected to finalise his move to Liverpool on deadline day.

Following Eze's acquisition, there have been reports that the club are back in the market for further defensive reinforcements, with Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie the main aim in the window's final hours.

Further back, a £51m transfer for Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi went through with minimal fuss - as did Christian Norgaard's £12m move from Brentford - but after Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia signed for Barcelona, Arsenal opted to bring in £5m Chelsea man Kepa Arrizabalaga as backup to David Raya.

Arsenal's budget for 2025 summer transfer window

After finishing second in the Premier League and losing to Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League's last 16 in the 2022-23 season, Arsenal splashed out a whopping £200m on the arrivals of Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz.

Last summer was a more conservative window, as Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori and Raya arrived for close to a combined £100m, while Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Aaron Ramsdale were sold.

Having now generated more revenue from reaching the UCL semis, Arsenal are in excellent financial shape, and Arteta will likely approach £300m in overall outlay this summer.

However, the Gunners often struggle to sell players for maximum value, and while their net spend figure could be brought down if the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Reiss Nelson, Fabio Vieira and Albert Sambi Lokonga are sold, they must be mindful of UEFA's squad spending limitations, even if they are comfortable with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.

Arsenal's most likely signings for 2025 summer transfer window

Kepa, Zubimendi, Madueke, Norgaard and Eze have now touched down in North London, with Gyokeres also joining in a high-profile deal.

Centre-back Mosquera has also swapped La Liga for the Premier League, and he has not looked out of place in Arteta's backline whether at right-back or next to Gabriel.

While Arsenal are not treading any Financial Fair Play lines, they still baulked at Real and Milan's asking prices for Rodrygo and Leao respectively.

The most likely incoming at the last minute is Bayer Leverkusen's Hincapie, who can comfortable fit in at both left-back and centre-half, though the details of the potential deadline-day deal are yet to be finalised.

Arsenal's priority positions for 2025 summer transfer window

In terms of Arsenal's number one priority, the answer has arguably been the same ever since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's acrimonious exit in early 2022, since when Gabriel Jesus and Havertz have taken on number nine duties to mixed success.

The Gunners held off on a centre-forward signing last summer and took a risk that backfired in January, but this window has seen Arteta welcome a new marksman in the form of Gyokeres.

As neither Gabriel Martinelli nor Leandro Trossard are setting the world alight right now, a new left-winger (Madueke) was also on Berta's agenda, while Zubimendi and Norgaard's arrivals will fill the two number six voids left by Jorginho and Thomas Partey's departures.

Striker, left wing and defensive midfield are undoubtedly Arsenal's top outfield priorities, but in between the posts, a new number two was of paramount importance following Neto's return to parent club Bournemouth.

As Garcia is now donning the Barcelona strip, Arsenal turned to the man who filled Neto's Bournemouth boots in Kepa, still the most expensive goalkeeper in history but one who only cost £5m thanks to a clause in his Chelsea contract.

With the end of the window approaching, a move for Eze was fast-tracked to bolster the frontline, perhaps due to the fact that versatile forward Havertz suffered what could be a long-term knee injury.