Arsenal and United confirm Cunha transfer. It's official.

Arsenal and Manchester United jointly confirmed on Thursday evening that Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha has completed a transfer to Arsenal for an initial fee of £62 million, rising to £72 million with add-ons. The announcement was made simultaneously by both clubs in identical statements issued at 9:47 p.m. GMT, an unusual coordination brokered by agent Jorge Mendes, who went on record to confirm the deal.

“We are delighted to welcome Matheus to Arsenal,” said Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, who spoke briefly to reporters outside the club’s London Colney training ground. “He brings qualities we have been looking for — he presses intensely, he creates in tight spaces, and he can operate across the whole front line. He will be an important player for us.”

Ruben Amorim, Manchester United’s manager, acknowledged the transfer at his post-match news conference following United’s 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford earlier in the evening. “It is a deal that worked for both clubs and for the player,” Mr. Amorim said. “We wish Matheus well. He gave us everything while he was here and we are grateful for that.”

The transfer was finalised over a 72-hour period in which Mendes held parallel conversations with United’s sporting director Dan Ashworth and Arsenal’s head of football Edu Gaspar. People familiar with the negotiations said both clubs had agreed in principle by Tuesday, with the joint statement arranged at Mendes’s insistence to avoid leaks before the announcement was ready.

Cunha, 25, joined United from Atlético Madrid in January 2023 for £43 million and became one of the Premier League’s most reliable attacking players over two and a half seasons, scoring 34 goals and providing 28 assists across all competitions. His ability to drift wide, hold up play under pressure and combine in congested areas had made him a regular subject of transfer speculation.