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A Transfer Window Under Pressure
The final stretch of the market has entered a phase where deals can no longer be viewed in isolation. The movements surrounding Gabriel Martinelli, Leonardo Balerdi, Mamadou Sarr and Ollie Watkins follow the same logic: European clubs are seeking financial or sporting breathing room, while Saudi Arabia, Italy and Spain are accelerating their pursuit of immediately useful profiles.
Balerdi has often embodied a form of defensive continuity, with his ability to play out from the back, his aggression and his more exposed moments.
The most spectacular case remains that of Martinelli. Several Brazilian media outlets report that the Arsenal winger has given the green light to Al-Hilal, in a deal that would exceed 65 million euros. The fee would place the Brazilian among the most notable sales in the recent history of the London club. From a sporting standpoint, the signal is clear: despite his status and his high-level seasons, Martinelli is coming off a campaign in which competition intensified at Arsenal. For Al-Hilal, this would mean adding a player still in his prime, rather than a star at the end of his cycle.
Marseille and Rome negotiate Balerdi
In Marseille, Leonardo Balerdi is moving closer to Roma. Reports converge on a loan deal with an option or conditional obligation to buy. The Argentine defender’s profile matches Roma’s needs in a back three, while OM are looking to reduce their wage bill and create room ahead of potential arrivals.
This deal is not insignificant for Marseille. Balerdi has often embodied a form of defensive continuity, with his ability to play out from the back, his aggression and his more exposed moments. Seeing him leave in the final hours of the market would force the club to quickly weigh financial savings, sporting balance and squad depth. Roma, meanwhile, are moving for a player already accustomed to intense public pressure, which reduces some of the adaptation risk.
Sarr heads out in search of playing time
Mamadou Sarr, for his part, is taking a clearer path: Real Sociedad are welcoming him on loan from Chelsea for the season. The 20-year-old defender comes from an already demanding journey between Strasbourg, Chelsea and the Senegal national team. The Basque club are acquiring a physical centre-back, still with room for improvement, but capable of addressing an immediate rotation need.
For Chelsea, this loan looks like career-path management. Sarr needs to play in order to progress, especially in a team where places are at a premium and young defenders can quickly find themselves stuck between a long-term project and the urgency of results. In La Liga, he will find a tactically demanding league, less forgiving of positioning mistakes, but well suited to a defender looking to improve his reading of the game.
Watkins confirms the Saudi call
The case of Ollie Watkins illustrates the other side of the market. Aston Villa prepared for his departure to Al-Hilal, for a fee of around 50 million pounds according to the English press. Unai Emery acknowledged the emotional dimension of a major departure, while also seeing his club move forward with attacking replacements.
Taken together, this provides a clear snapshot of the 2026 transfer window: English clubs remain at the centre of the major transactions, but they are no longer buyers only. Amid financial constraints, asset valuation and very high Saudi offers, several teams are now willing to sell starters or near-starters. The final hours will reveal whether all these deals are completed, but the trend is already clear: this market is ending in a hurry, and each operation triggers another.