Galatasaray submit record €45m bid for Arsenal’s Martinelli

Galatasaray have submitted an official €45m (£38.5m) bid for Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli, marking the highest fee ever offered by a Turkish club. The offer has been confirmed as received by Arsenal, although Martinelli is not currently seeking a departure and reportedly expects a move to one of Europe’s strongest leagues.

Florian Plettenberg initially reported the interest on Wednesday, identifying Martinelli as Galatasaray’s top transfer priority. James McNicholas and Adam Leventhal of The Athletic subsequently confirmed that the English club has received the formal proposal, noting that the player’s stance remains firmly rooted in London for the time being.

Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu suggests that Arsenal are seeking €60m for the winger, a figure significantly higher than the Turkish club’s current offer. There are unconfirmed suggestions that Arsenal might consider selling Ethan Nwaneri to help match the €45m bid amount, though this remains a reporter’s suggestion rather than a confirmed negotiation strategy.

The €45m valuation represents a historic threshold for the Super Lig. Galatasaray have only signed one player for more in their history—Victor Osimhen from Napoli—and no other club in the Turkish league has ever paid more than this amount for a player. This context suggests that while the bid is substantial, it may not meet Arsenal’s valuation or the player’s expectations for a top-tier European move.

Negotiations are expected to determine the direction of travel in the coming days. If Martinelli remains unwilling to consider the Super Lig or if Galatasaray do not increase their offer, the deal is unlikely to proceed. However, continued talks could indicate a potential resolution, provided both parties can bridge the gap between the current bid and Arsenal’s asking price.