Arsenal information: Late signing jets in for medical as £60m switch set to be confirmed
Arsenal are still doing transfer business with Mikel Arteta overseeing incomings and outgoings even though the summer window has closed in England
Mikel Arteta is continuing to get deals done
Arsenal’s transfer business isn’t over yet despite the summer window slamming shut in England.
Mikel Arteta and Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta splashed out £200million on five fresh acquisitions during the summer window. Piero Hincapie’s loan was converted into a permanent £34.5m deal, back-up goalkeeper Illan Meslier arrived as a free transfer, winger Christos Tzolis was snapped up for £34m, Bruno Guimaraes wrestled free from Newcastle United for £75m, and Ezri Konsa bought from Aston Villa in a £55m agreement.
Yet the reigning Premier League champions failed to secure a marquee striker or world class winger for their squad, despite being connected with numerous ambitious targets, including Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez. The north London giants proved more effective regarding departures, offloading Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Leandro Trossard and last summer’s buy Christian Norgaard. Here’s all the latest news from the Emirates.
(Image: David Price, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Winger lands at Arsenal
Pictures have circulated online of Andria Bartishvili touching down in London on Wednesday for his Arsenal medical, having struck a five-year agreement with the Gunners, reports the Mirror.
The 17-year-old Georgian ace has been hailed as ‘the next Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’, and can operate in both wide and attacking midfield roles.
Nevertheless, despite finalising his switch, Bartishvili won’t link up with the Arsenal first-team setup until he reaches 18 in March 2027.
Andria Bartishvili of Iberia Tbilisi in action(Image: Getty )
The north London outfit reportedly saw off competition from the likes of Juventus and Liverpool for his services by striking a deal worth €4.5m (£3.85m).
Bartishvili has already posted a message to all those commenting on his Arsenal switch, penning on Instagram: “A very big thank you to everyone for the congratulations.”
He has shone for Erovnuli Liga club Iberia 1999, on loan from Kolkheti 1913.
£60m Martinelli deal nears completion
Gabriel Martinelli is set to become an Al-Hilal player(Image: Getty Images)
Gabriel Martinelli’s switch to Al-Hilal is anticipated to be rubber-stamped imminently.
The 25-year-old is poised to join the Saudi Pro League outfit from Arsenal in a package worth £55.7m plus £4.3m in add-ons, representing a club record departure.
Martinelli, despite originally wanting to remain at the Emirates, accepted the transfer and completed his medical on Wednesday. According to The Athletic, he will pen a four-year deal at the Riyadh-based outfit.
The transfer is anticipated to be confirmed soon as, in contrast to the Premier League transfer window which closed on September 1, Saudi clubs have until September 6 to finalise their dealings.
Since his move from the Brazilian fourth-tier to Arsenal back in 2019, Martinelli has played a key role in the Gunners’ triumphs in the FA Cup and Premier League, netting 62 goals and setting up 36 more in 278 appearances.
Should the move go through as expected, it would see Arsenal bank their highest fee ever for a sale, smashing the £35m that they received from Liverpool for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in 2017.
