Arsenal Step Up Chase For Brazilian Teenage Sensation With Discussions Held Over £6.9m Deal

Arsenal Step Up Chase For Brazilian Teenage Sensation With Discussions Held Over £6.9m Deal

Arsenal have entered talks with Brazilian outfit Ituano about signing teenage striker Gabriel Martinelli, according to reports in Brazil.

Both Crystal Palace and Watford are also keen on the forward but the Gunners are the club in pole position to sign the player.


Arsenal initially sent scouts to see Martinelli in action when Ituano lost 3-2 to Palmeiras in the Paulista State Championship at the end of last month.

Since then, the London club have firmed up their interest. Although the details of the deal have not yet been finalised, there is said to be an agreement about the transfer.

The Gunners are prepared to pay €8m (£6.9m) for Martinelli, including bonuses, with a move likely to be sealed when the player turns 18 in June.

The teenager scored 73 goals in 139 games for Corinthians’ youth team before moving to Ituano. He has also previously been on trial at Manchester United and Barcelona.

David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.