Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano, according to reports in the Brazilian media.

Gabriel Martinelli
Gabriel Martinelli

Brazilian outlet UOL report that Arsenal have an agreement to sign the 17-year-old for an undisclosed fee this summer. Martinelli drew interest from Brazilian clubs like Flamengo, Cruzeiro, Santos and more, but he’s decided to transfer to the Premier League instead.

All that remains is for Martinelli to receive his Italian passport. After that, it’s expected he’ll be officially announced as an Arsenal player in June when he turns 18, according to the report. Ituano tried to hold onto a portion of Martinelli’s economic rights, but the Gunners stood firm against that.

Arsenal scouts have been watching the player a lot this season, and they held conversations with him back in February. Martinelli spoke to other Premier League clubs at the same time, but none of them were as convincing as Arsenal.

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Gabriel Martinelli

Martinelli drew a lot of attention in this year’s Campeonato Paulista, as he scored six goals and assisted three in 14 appearances. That put him just one goal off the competition’s top scorer and two assists off the top assist provider, despite his age. Let’s hope he can be just as effective in North London.