Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has officially finalized his transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in a historic deal worth £60 million. The Brazilian forward has committed to a four-year contract with the Riyadh-based club, where he is set to wear the number 7 shirt.
A Record-Breaking Departure for Arsenal
The £60 million transfer fee represents a new landmark for Arsenal, making Martinelli the most expensive player sale in the North London club’s history. The deal, which also includes a sell-on clause, eclipses the previous record of £40 million set when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was sold to Liverpool in the summer of 2017.
Before agreeing to the lucrative move to Saudi Arabia, Martinelli had reportedly turned down interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray earlier in the transfer window. The Super Lig outfit had tabled a bid of approximately £38.9 million, but the 25-year-old winger was not keen on a move to Turkey at this stage of his career.
Arsenal’s Summer Clearout Reaches New Heights
Martinelli’s departure is part of a wider restructuring of the Gunners’ attacking options. His exit follows closely on the heels of fellow left-sided forward Leandro Trossard, who recently completed a move to Besiktas. With these high-profile departures, Arsenal’s total revenue generated from player sales during this summer transfer window has now climbed past the £120 million mark.
End of a Memorable Spell in North London
Martinelli leaves the Emirates Stadium after a highly successful tenure since his arrival in 2019. Over his five years with the Gunners, the Brazilian made 191 Premier League appearances, registering 41 goals and contributing 24 assists.
Although he played a part in Arsenal’s historic campaign last season—which saw the club end its 22-year wait for a Premier League title—Martinelli found consistent starting opportunities harder to come by. He made 30 league appearances during the championship-winning season, but only 11 of those were starts, marking his lowest starting frequency in a single campaign since the 2020/21 season.