Will Arsenal break their poor transfer sale record this summer?

Will Arsenal break their poor transfer sale record this summer? Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain still tops Arsenal’s list of record departures, but growing interest in Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri could change that. Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images For almost a decade, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has held the distinction of being Arsenal ‘s record sale, but that long-standing mark could finally fall before the end of this summer’s transfer window. When Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Liverpool on deadline day in August 2017, Arsenal secured a guaranteed £35 million fee for a player with just one year remaining on his contract. Reports at the time suggested add-ons could have taken the overall package to around £40 million, but the £35 million guaranteed fee remains the club’s benchmark. Remarkably, despite the rapid inflation of the transfer market, no Arsenal player has surpassed that figure. A few have come close to that amount, before and after, such as Folarin Balogun , whose 2023 move to Monaco was widely reported to match Oxlade-Chamberlain’s £35 million guaranteed fee. However, that was only once all add-ons were included. The upfront fee was just £25m. Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images Nicholas Anelka previously moved for just under £30m, Alex Iwobi left for Everton in 2019 for £28 million, while Alexis Sanchez was around £1m less (despite reports, it wasn’t a swap with Henrikh Mkhitaryan , both players were sold), as was Cesc Fabregas . Emile Smith Rowe followed with a £27 million move to Fulham last summer, Robin van Persie , when he left to follow his little boy, cost £26m while Eddie Nketiah joined Crystal Palace for £25 million. For a club of Arsenal’s stature, it is a surprisingly modest record. Many of their Premier League rivals have generated sales worth £80 million, £100 million or more, yet Arsenal’s highest guaranteed outgoing fee has remained unchanged since 2017. That could finally change this summer. The most obvious candidate is Gabriel Martinelli . Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images Despite a quieter campaign last season, the Brazil international remains only 25, is under contract and continues to attract interest. Reports have valued him in the region of £45 million to £50 million , a figure that would comfortably establish a new club-record sale should Arsenal decide to cash in. The other name to watch is Ethan Nwaneri . Recent transfer speculation has placed the academy graduate’s valuation between €35 million and €40 million , with Arsenal reportedly prepared to consider a permanent sale only if it includes a substantial buy-back clause. Whether Arsenal are prepared to sell either player is another question entirely. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images Martinelli remains an established member of Mikel Arteta ‘s squad, while Nwaneri is still regarded as one of the club’s brightest young talents despite uncertainty over his long-term role. But after nearly nine years with Oxlade-Chamberlain sitting alone at the top of Arsenal’s list of record departures, there is a realistic possibility that the club’s highest-ever sale could finally be rewritten before the transfer window closes. Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images