Martinelli Rejects Galatasaray Move as Arsenal Plans Summer Sales

Gabriel Martinelli has made his stance clear: he does not want to leave Arsenal for Galatasaray this summer, despite a sizeable offer on the table.

According to The Athletic, the Turkish champions have submitted a bid worth €45 million (£38.4m) for the Brazilian winger. Arsenal have been informed of the proposal, but those close to Martinelli have told the club’s hierarchy he has no intention of pursuing the move.

He is tied to the Premier League champions until 2027, with Arsenal holding an option to extend that deal by a further year to 2028. Talks over a fresh renewal have not started, and at 25 he remains one of the players the club would consider selling if a genuinely compelling offer arrived. The player’s position, though, is firm: he wants to stay in north London.

Arsenal's Summer Sales

Arsenal’s summer has been shaped by the need to sell. The club went into this window knowing departures were required to keep the finances in line after last season’s title triumph and deep Champions League run.

• Leandro Trossard has already left for Besiktas in a €20m deal
• Christian Norgaard has joined Everton for £7m

Even with those exits, the feeling inside the club is that more outgoings are necessary before the window closes.

Wide Options

At the same time, Arsenal have refreshed their options out wide. Greek winger Christos Tzolis has arrived from Club Brugge, and the club also explored an ambitious move for Vinicius Junior before the Brazilian extended his contract with Real Madrid. The competition in the wide areas is intensifying, but Martinelli is not looking for an escape route.

Signed from Ituano in 2019, Martinelli has grown from raw prospect to established first-teamer. He has made 278 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 62 goals. Last season he featured 53 times in all competitions, contributing 11 goals and 7 assists as the Gunners lifted the Premier League trophy and reached the Champions League final.

Arsenal may still need a major sale to balance the books. For now, Martinelli is making one thing non-negotiable: if that sacrifice comes, he does not expect to be the one.