Gabriel Martinelli’s Ituano teammate Leonardo Augusto dos Santos Pereira has posted a farewell to the Arsenal-bound youngster on Instagram.

Martinelli’s reported transfer to Arsenal this summer has been edging closer in the past few weeks.

Reports suggest the deal to sign the 18-year-old is already agreed, and he certainly did nothing to quell the rumours when he followed the club on Instagram earlier this month. The only remaining question is exactly when the move will be made official.

Martinelli has been in Brazil until at least the last few days, but one of his teammates has suggested that’s about to change.

Leo Santos reposted a picture of Martinelli and a few teammates with the message: “Safe trip. God bless you, just progress for your life. We’ll be out there soon, God willing.”

The timing of Martinelli’s departure suggests the club are saving the announcement for after 1st July when the new kit is released. There’s nothing like new signings to sell shirts, after all.

Martinelli impressed 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 only turning 18 this month.

Most likely he’ll start out in the Arsenal u23s, though he may well get a chance to impress with the first team during pre-season. If the deal does go through, Martinelli’s first chance to feature for the Gunners would be during the Boreham Wood friendly on July 6th.