Fulham enter race for Arnau Martínez as Valencia deal faces late threat

Fulham have entered the race for Girona captain Arnau Martínez, threatening to disrupt a transfer to Valencia that had moved close to completion.

Valencia have spent several days negotiating for the 23-year-old right-back and already have an agreement with the player over a five-year contract. Talks with Girona had also advanced significantly, with the clubs working around a package of approximately €6 million plus add-ons and a percentage of any future sale.

The situation changed on Tuesday. AS, citing journalist Jan Wiedemann, reports that Fulham have made contact over Martínez and are in a financial position to pay his €8 million release clause in full. No formal Fulham bid has been reported at this stage, but their intervention has introduced a credible alternative at a point when Valencia believed they were close to completing the deal.

Valencia’s advantage remains the work already done with the player. Martínez has been receptive to the move to Mestalla and has been in discussions with Carlos Corberán, while Girona have gradually moved closer to accepting a negotiated sale rather than insisting exclusively on the full value of the clause.

The timing makes Fulham’s interest particularly significant. Valencia have prioritised a new right-back throughout the closing stages of the window and want the position reinforced before their La Liga opener against Celta Vigo. Martínez has been their leading target, but Fulham can offer both Premier League football and the option of resolving the transfer immediately by triggering the clause.

Girona’s position is also relatively clear. Martínez has one year remaining on his contract and, despite wanting to leave following the club’s relegation, has continued to train and play professionally. He started Girona’s league opener against Leganés while negotiations with Valencia remained unresolved.

The next move now rests largely with the player and Fulham. Valencia remain well advanced and have already agreed terms with Martínez, but an €8 million payment from Fulham would remove the need for further negotiations with Girona.

For now, the English club’s interest is genuine enough to complicate the deal, but not yet advanced enough to describe Martínez as a Fulham signing or even the subject of a formal offer.