Arsenal receive fresh Julian Alvarez transfer message

9 Aug 2026 13:09 BST | 4 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

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Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has confirmed that Julian Alvarez isn’t for sale this summer, amid rumours that he could join Arsenal or Barcelona before Deadline Day.

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The Argentina striker scored 20 goals in 49 games across all competitions last season and he has been heavily linked with a summer exit for several months after an excellent two-year stint at the Metropilitano.

Current ETV

Julián Álvarez

F (C)

Atlético Madrid

Julián Álvarez

F (C)

Atlético Madrid

ETV Range

€84M - €102.7M

Alvarez confirmed his desire to leave Atletico Madrid this summer while on international duty with Argentina at the World Cup, but the Spanish giants have no interest in sanctioning a sale, despite strong interest from both Arsenal and Barcelona.

Atletico Madrid president Miguel Angel Gil Marin has previously admitted that Barcelona will only be able to sign Alvarez if they trigger his €500 million release clause and it’s understood that Arsenal would also need to make him their all-time record signing if they want to lure him to north London.

Simeone has now reiterated that Alvarez isn’t for sale ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

“The situation is very clear, the club made a decision that Miguel Angel [Gil Marin] explained very well,” Simeone told reporters on Saturday (via Metro).

“From the sporting side, we are very happy to have a player like Julian, and from a sporting perspective we will help him to continue growing, to continue improving, and to give us back what he has given us over these two years, which was a great deal.

“We have some precedents, we already saw what happened with [Antoine] Griezmann, I don’t see any other way than to work from a sporting perspective as we have to and try to help as we have done these past two years.”

© IMAGO - Atletico Madrid want to keep Julian Alvarez this summer

Will Arsenal sign a new forward this summer?

With a move for Alvarez now unlikely and fellow target Vinicius Junior opting to sign a contract extension at Real Madrid, Arsenal will need to pursue an alternative signing if they wish to bolster their forward line before Deadline Day on 1 September.

Bradley Barcola is understood to be on their radar, but FootballTransfers has been told that Arsenal will not sign him unless Paris Saint-Germain reduce their asking price to around €110m. Furthermore, Liverpool are regarded as the current frontrunners to sign the France international.

As a result, it remains to be seen if Arteta will look to bring another attacker to the Emirates Stadium this summer, with the Gunners already boasting a strong contingent of forwards, including new signing Christos Tzolis.