Arsenal close in on four academy signings as Martinelli nears £50m Al-Hilal exit

Arsenal are set for a frantic close to the transfer window, pursuing four academy-level signings while preparing to sell Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal for a fee in the region of £50m — a figure that would represent a record sale for the club.

Sporting director Andrea Berta has already overseen the arrivals of Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa for a combined £200m this summer. That total could climb further still, with Arsenal continuing to pursue Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez for a club-record fee of up to £128m.

Four young signings in the pipeline

According to The Athletic, Arsenal are close to completing deals for four promising youngsters as part of an intensified academy recruitment push. Right-back Habeeb Ogunneye, 20, has undergone a medical ahead of a free transfer from Manchester United, and winger James Scanlon, 19, is also expected to follow on a free from Old Trafford.

A third deal, for Blackburn Rovers midfielder Igor Tyjon, 18, is also near completion after Arsenal agreed to pay an initial £1m plus bonuses. The club have additionally made a contract offer to 17-year-old Georgian midfielder Andria Bartishvili, who is currently on loan at Georgian top-flight side Iberia and has already represented his country at under-21 level. His existing deal expires later this year, and Arsenal are seeking to tie him down on a pre-contract agreement.

Meslier’s arrival has also cleared the path for backup goalkeeper Tommy Setford to depart on loan.

Martinelli pushed toward the exit

Marinelli’s situation has cast a shadow over an otherwise productive window. The Brazilian winger, who had initially wanted to remain at the club, is now set to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal after being left out of squads in recent weeks. The £50m fee would surpass Arsenal’s previous record sale.

The manner of his exit has reportedly unsettled some members of the dressing room, with a number of Martinelli’s team-mates said to have felt uncomfortable with how the situation was handled.

Elsewhere in potential outgoings, Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira are listed as available for transfer, while Ethan Nwaneri could leave on loan to gain first-team experience.