Gabriel Martinelli has told Arsenal he does not want to join Galatasaray, even after the Turkish club reportedly tested the market with a €45m (£38m) offer. Arsenal still value him at €50m (£42.7m), and his contract is set to expire next summer. That leaves the club deciding whether the price is right, not whether the winger has agreed to go.

The price gap Arsenal are working with

The gap is small, but it is real. Galatasaray's proposal stands at €45m (£38m), while Arsenal's valuation is €50m (£42.7m), and that €5m difference is enough to keep the talks from moving cleanly.

Martinelli's stance is the bigger issue. Goal reported that he had informed the Arsenal hierarchy he had no intention of joining Galatasaray, while David Ornstein, writing for football-italia.net, said via Martinelli’s entourage that the player has no intention of coming to the Turkish champions. Those are the two clearest signals in the story so far.

The appeal of a sale is also easy to see from Arsenal's side. Martinelli managed only 1 Premier League goal last season, a return that will not strengthen his hand if the club decide to listen to offers.

Roma and Milan stay in the frame

Galatasaray are not the only club watching the situation. The wider market is still there, with AS Roma and AC Milan both mentioned as clubs with an interest in Martinelli.

That matters because Arsenal are not dealing with a winger on the edge of the squad. Martinelli made 30 Premier League appearances in 2025-26, so any move would be a decision on a regular option rather than a player who has already fallen out of the picture.

Arsenal have also already spent £34m to bring in Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, while Leandro Trossard left for Besiktas in a £15.3m deal earlier this summer. The left side is already changing, and Martinelli's future is now one of the last major calls left in that part of the squad.

The next move depends on whether a club meets Arsenal's price and whether Martinelli softens his stance, but for now the key detail is simple: Galatasaray have bid €45m, Arsenal want €50m, and Martinelli has said no to Turkey.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →