Gabriel Jesus has revealed he accepted a considerable reduction in his wages to secure a move to Barcelona, describing the transfer as a lifelong ambition finally fulfilled.

The Spanish champions, who have won all three of their opening LaLiga fixtures this season, confirmed the signing of Jesus from Arsenal on Tuesday. The Brazilian has put pen to paper on a three-year deal, with Barcelona understood to have paid an initial fee of €10 million — a figure that could rise to €15 million through add-ons.

"I took a significant salary drop, but it's a dream to be here," Jesus said at his official presentation, speaking via beIN SPORTS. "But it wasn't just me who had to make an effort to get the transfer over the line — Barça also played their part."

A dream he almost gave up on

Jesus, who turned 29 this year, admitted the move came as a surprise even to himself. "If you had asked me one month ago, I would have said it was unlikely this would happen. At 29, I didn't think I would have the chance to come to Barça," he said.

The forward arrived at Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022 but was hampered by injuries throughout his time at the Emirates. He made 123 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 32 goals from opportunities with a combined expected goals value of 36.9.

Seventh signing of the summer

Jesus becomes Barcelona's seventh addition of the transfer window, joining Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi as new attacking reinforcements for the Blaugrana.

Barcelona had been pursuing Julian Alvarez before Atletico Madrid declined to let the Argentine depart. Jesus addressed the speculation that he was a second-choice option head-on, showing no signs of being troubled by it.

"It doesn't annoy me, it doesn't bother me," he said. "What annoys me is if people say I'm a bad guy, which has never happened in my life, or if I am not playing football — that bothers me."

"I have the chance to play for Barcelona, a chance I had 10 years ago and now life has offered me that opportunity again," he added, underscoring just how much this move means to him personally.