EXCLUSIVE: 'Genuine belief' at Arsenal that Vinicius Jr will join in 2027

FootballTransfers can reveal that Arsenal are confident that the signing of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr is not only possible but even likely.

The Gunners pursued the Brazilian superstar in the summer, but he ultimately rejected a transfer to North London in favour of extending his stay in the Spanish capital, signing a new contract until 2032.

Despite his extension, questions have been raised about Vinicius' long-term future at Real Madrid. His hefty new deal seems to weigh heavily on him, and he has been unable to live up to expectations this season.

The club's recent success under Jose Mourinho has largely been achieved without Vinicius, who was serving a four-game suspension in LaLiga ahead of the international break. He is believed to be at serious risk of losing his starting spot to summer signing Yan Diomande.

The brilliant brace he scored for Brazil in their 3-2 loss to Japan on Saturday may give him renewed confidence once he returns to Real Madrid, but the fact of the matter is that his performances thus far have not been up to par.

When Arsenal missed out on Vinicius this summer, they opted to keep their powder dry instead of pursuing different targets they were perhaps not totally convinced by. This will give them flexibility in 2027.

With the left-wing position still a major priority for Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta, Vinicius remains a viable target. In fact, he remains the Gunners' top target despite his contract extension.

This isn't entirely surprising. Once Arteta sets his sights on a target, he is determined to get his hands on the player and is willing to play the waiting game. That's how Martin Zubimendi ended up at the Emirates in 2025 after a multi-year pursuit.

Arteta has not yet given up hope of convincing Vinicius to join Arsenal. On the contrary, there is a growing conviction at the club that a transfer remains a distinct possibility going forward.

Sources close to the club suggest that a "genuine belief" has crystallised in recent weeks that a Vinicius transfer is a question of when, not if, with senior figures at Arsenal confident that he could potentially join as early as next summer.

That is quite an extreme position to take in November, but it becomes more comprehensible when taking into account that there was a well-founded confidence at Arsenal this summer that Vinicius would absolutely have joined had he not signed a new Real Madrid contract.

The Gunners presented the most appealing project and would have been his only viable option had Real Madrid not made a satisfactory offer. In other words, Arsenal "rolled out the red carpet" for Vini, as confirmed by one of his representatives last month.

Roc Nation Sports International president Michael Yormack acknowledged that the 26-year-old "seriously considered" Arsenal's offer despite his affection for Real Madrid. Ultimately, though, staying in a familiar environment was his priority.

"Did he ever seriously consider Arsenal? I mean, of course. When a team like Arsenal rolls out the red carpet for you and makes you feel really wanted, then obviously you have to listen," Yormack admitted.

Vinicius' desire is to finish his career at Real Madrid, but with his position at the club coming under more and more scrutiny with each passing week, his strong bond with the Spanish giants is being severely strained.

If that continues, then Arsenal would be foolish not to back themselves to be able to tempt Vinicius into a move. They have the finances and the stature to sign him; they could make him the face of the Premier League.

Obviously, Arsenal will not sign Vinicius this winter. Any move is only possible in the summer at the earliest. But the Brazilian will nevertheless have a major impact on the Gunners' January business.

Given their confidence that they will sign Vinicius eventually, they are highly unlikely to move for a left-winger mid-season unless there is a devastating injury crisis in the coming weeks.

Arsenal's next winger signing will only be someone who can genuinely elevate the level of the team. They will not add another Christos Tzolis just for the sake of it; they want Vinicius Jr, or at least someone of a similar profile.

Rumours that Arsenal could make a move for Antonio Nusa in January need to be taken with a healthy pinch of salt. He is not someone the Premier League champions would break the bank for, especially not in the winter. RB Leipzig also do not wish to sell mid-season.

FootballTransfers reported in early October that Nusa, as things stand, is not considered a serious Arsenal target for 2027. That stance has yet to change, although his form has been very impressive this season.

Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean that it's Vinicius or bust. As we revealed at the end of October, Arteta is a huge admirer of his compatriot Alex Baena and has been since at least 2024, back when the Spain international was still starring for Villarreal.

He is someone who is viewed internally as a feasible alternative to Vinicius despite being a very different type of winger. Baena could even be an option in January if reinforcements become desperately necessary, but trying to prise him away from Atletico Madrid this winter is likely to prove an exercise in futility.

The main goal remains Vinicius Jr. Arsenal are willing to go to great lengths to bring the Brazilian superstar to North London, and they are confident that he will trade Real Madrid's white for their red before long.

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