Gabriel Martinelli has completed his transfer from Arsenal to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal in a £60 million deal, bringing an end to his seven-year spell with the Gunners.
According to Sky Sports, the deal includes a fixed fee and a sell-on clause, making Martinelli the most expensive player sale in Arsenal’s history. The transfer surpasses the club’s previous record sale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s £40 million move to Liverpool in 2017.
Martinelli joined Arsenal from Brazilian club Ituano in 2019 as an 18-year-old and went on to establish himself as an important member of the first team. Because Arsenal signed him as a teenager, the £60 million transfer fee represents pure profit on the club’s accounts, Sky Sports reports.
The Brazil international had also attracted interest from Turkish club Galatasaray, which reportedly offered around £38.9 million for his services. However, Martinelli was unwilling to move to Turkey at this stage of his career, paving the way for his switch to Saudi Arabia.
His departure takes Arsenal’s income from player sales this summer beyond £120 million. Leandro Trossard has also left the club for Besiktas, while Arsenal have signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, with the new arrival starting the Gunners’ opening two Premier League matches as Martinelli was absent.
Martinelli’s departure comes after a difficult final season in north London. He made 30 Premier League appearances but started just 11 matches, his lowest number of league starts since the 2020/21 campaign.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright had previously expressed concern over Martinelli’s treatment, saying the situation made him “uncomfortable” and arguing that the forward deserved “more respect”.
Martinelli leaves Arsenal having made 191 Premier League appearances for the club, scoring 41 goals and providing 24 assists.
