Arsenal have missed out on the signing of Vinícius Júnior after the Brazilian agreed a new long-term contract with Real Madrid, bringing one of the summer’s more unexpected transfer stories to an end.

The 26-year-old has committed his future to Madrid until 2032 after negotiations over a new deal finally reached an agreement.

For Arsenal, it ends a pursuit which underwent the unusual process of beginning as an almost implausible transfer rumour and gradually becoming quite serious.

The Premier League champions first made an approach for Vinícius last month, with uncertainty surrounding his future at the Bernabéu and only one year remaining on his previous contract.

At that stage, Arsenal signing one of Real Madrid’s biggest players could reasonably be filed alongside the more ambitious possibilities of the summer transfer window.

It then refused to go away.

Arsenal maintained their interest, a serious bid followed and reports suggested an agreement over personal terms had moved close enough for the prospect of Vinícius playing at the Emirates to require increasingly serious consideration.

Supporters who had initially treated the story with understandable caution were eventually presented with the considerably more dangerous possibility that it might actually happen.

Real Madrid have now resolved that problem.

Vinícius’ new six-year contract keeps him at the Bernabéu until 2032 and leaves Arsenal considering alternative attacking targets as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen the left side of his attack.

Bradley Barcola, Julian Alvarez and Iliman Ndiaye are among the alternatives being considered.

None will require Arsenal supporters to go through quite the same process.

For almost two weeks, Vinícius Júnior went from a transfer Arsenal were surprisingly linked with, to one they might genuinely complete.

He then signed for Real Madrid.