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GABRIEL MARTINELLI REJECTS MOVE TO GALATASARAY
Gabriel Martinelli has informed Arsenal he does not want to sign for Galatasaray after the club received a £40M bid.
AFCFLAIR
14th August 2026 - 17:00PM
Gabriel Martinelli has informed Arsenal that he does not wish to join Turkish side Galatasaray this summer, despite the club receiving a £40M bid for the Brazilian international.
Arsenal have listed Martinelli on the transfer market this summer and are listening to offers for the player however, Gabriel Martinelli is not pushing to leave the Premier League champions this summer.
Gabriel Martinelli's contract at Arsenal expires in 2027, with an option of a further year till 2028. Galatasaray have been monitoring the situation of Gabriel Martinelli for some time now and are looking to sign him after being unable to agree a deal to sign their priority target Rafael Leao.
The player’s firm stance has thrown a significant spanner in the works for the Turkish giants, who were confident that their lucrative £40 million package would be enough to tempt both club and player. While Arsenal's hierarchy are eager to cash in on the 25-year-old to maximize their summer budget, they cannot force the forward out against his will. Martinelli remains deeply settled in London and is determined to fight for his place in Mikel Arteta's squad, believing he still has a massive role to play in defending the club's Premier League title.
This internal stand-off presents a complex puzzle for sporting director Andrea Berta as the transfer deadline approaches. The club's decision to list the Brazilian on the market was directly tied to freeing up squad space and wage flexibility following the record-breaking arrival of left-winger Christos Tzolis. With Martinelli digging his heels in and holding the security of a contract that can run until 2028, Arsenal may have to adjust their late-window financial plans if they cannot convince the winger to accept an outbound project.
As a result, Galatasaray are expected to pivot their attention elsewhere, leaving Arsenal to manage a highly competitive and crowded attacking department. Arteta will now have to integrate Martinelli back into his immediate matchday plans alongside Tzolis and Gabriel Martinelli's other frontline teammates. Meanwhile, any hopes of using that £40 million windfall to instantly fund their emergency pursuit of defensive cover like Jules Koundé or Ezri Konsa will have to be generated through alternative squad sales before the window slams shut.
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