 After the Netherlands'exit at Euro 2000, Overmars was asked whether he would stay at Arsenal. He replied: "I really don't want to talk about it at the moment but you never know. There are some meetings with the club going on, we will talk over the next week." Lazio and Barcelona were reportedly interested in signing Overmars; the latter club hastened their efforts once Joan Gaspart was elected as president. Overmars was "flattered" by Barcelona's interest and said moving to such a club would "excite any player." Gaspart travelled to London to open negotiations with Arsenal and eventually reached an agreement to sign Overmars and his teammate Emmanuel Petit for a combined fee of around £ 32 million in July 2000. Overmars cost £ 25 million, making him the most expensive player in Dutch football history. The announcement of his transfer was unconventional; he publicised it on his personal website before informing the media. His site garnered 250,000 hits in one day, highlighting the internet's "potential for exponential growth" in regards to football. Overmars was delighted with the move, saying: "I can 't wait to pull on the famous shirt and play my first game."
