Striker Gabriel Martinelli could be leaving the Premier League. Galatasaray, a Turkish club, approached Arsenal to check the feasibility of signing the Brazilian player, as reported by the European press on August 10, 2026.
At 25 years old, Martinelli saw his position at Arsenal being occupied by other athletes the previous season. He was surpassed by Leandro Trossard and had increased competition with the arrival of Greek Christos Tzolis, signed from Club Brugge for approximately R$259 million.
More on this story: Galatasaray offers R$270 million for Martinelli in negotiation with Arsenal
Galatasaray turned its focus to Martinelli after failing to sign Milan striker Rafael Leão. Unsuccessful in negotiations for the Portuguese player, the Turkish team changed its strategy for the Brazilian.
This possible move by Martinelli comes at a time when the Turkish League has attracted big names. Mohamed Salah, for example, left Liverpool for Trabzonspor in Turkey in a two-year deal. This demonstrates the growing strength of the local league in attracting talent from the Premier League.
However, Martinelli’s departure from Arsenal is conditional on the arrival of a replacement. The English club is only considering releasing the player if it first manages to fill the gap in its squad, and is already closely monitoring athletes such as Kenan Yildiz, Julián Álvarez, Iliman Ndiaye and Eli Junior Kroupi.
Another factor driving the possibility of a negotiation is the fact that Martinelli is in the final year of his contract with Arsenal. Although the club has the option of extending the contract for another season, the proximity of the end of the agreement makes the sale a viable alternative to avoid a free exit.
An eventual sale of the Brazilian would be financially advantageous for Arsenal. The London team is aiming for a value higher than the £35 million (approximately R$266 million) that Liverpool paid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2017. This amount is still the record transfer received by the Gunners, indicating the strategic importance of the negotiation.