Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli joins Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in £60m transfer
Quick Look
- Arsenal have confirmed the permanent transfer of Brazil international Gabriel Martinelli to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal for a reported fee of £60 million ($81 million), making him the most expensive player ever sold by the Premier League champions.
- The 25-year-old forward signed a four-year deal after being omitted from Arsenal's opening matchday squads under manager Mikel Arteta, with former striker Ian Wright criticizing the club's handling of the situation.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Gabriel Martinelli joined Arsenal's youth academy in 2019 and made his first-team debut later that year. He became a regular player for the club, contributing to their Premier League title win in the 2023-24 season and previous successes in the FA Cup and Community Shield. His departure follows the sale of Leandro Trossard to Besiktas, raising concerns about squad depth in wide attacking positions.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has joined Saudi side Al-Hilal, the Premier League champions have announced.
No fee was disclosed but British media reports said the deal, finalised late on Thursday, was worth a guaranteed 60 million pounds ($81m).
That would make 25-year-old Brazil international Martinelli the most expensive player to leave the London club, following Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s 35 million pounds ($47m) exit to Liverpool in 2017.
Martinelli has signed a four-year deal with Al-Hilal, who are currently joint-top of the Saudi Pro League with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
“Gabriel Martinelli has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal on a permanent transfer,” said a statement on Arsenal’s website.
“Proud to be blue, proud to be Al-Hilal,” said Martinelli during an unveiling video on his new club’s social media channels.
He will join Ollie Watkins at Al-Hilal after the England striker left Aston Villa in a deal worth an estimated 51 million pounds ($69m).
Martinelli’s departure comes after Arsenal sold fellow left-sided forward Leandro Trossard to Besiktas.
Christos Tzolis has joined from Club Brugge, but there are concerns that the exits of Martinelli and Trossard could leave Arsenal short of personnel in that part of the pitch.
Martinelli made 53 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring 11 goals, as the Gunners won the top-flight title for the first time since 2004.
His nearly 300 games for Arsenal, including 62 goals, also saw him involved in their 2020 FA Cup and 2023 Community Shield successes.
He was left out of Arsenal’s first two matchday squads of the season, however, with manager Mikel Arteta making it clear Martinelli would struggle for game time were he to remain at the Emirates Stadium.
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright criticised the club’s decision to omit Martinelli from the squad for the opening game against Coventry.
“The way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable,” Wright told Sky Sports.
“I know they might want him out, and a lot of people might say, ‘yeah, it’s time for him to move him on’. But there’s ways of doing that, and it should suit him as well, how he wants to leave.”
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Arsenal will sign at least one new wide attacker before the end of the summer transfer window to compensate for the departures of Martinelli and Trossard.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What was the exact transfer fee paid by Al-Hilal for Gabriel Martinelli?
- Will Arsenal sign a replacement for Martinelli and Trossard before the transfer window closes?
- How will Martinelli's absence affect Arsenal's tactical setup under Mikel Arteta?
- What are the long-term implications of Martinelli's move to Saudi Arabia for his international career with Brazil?
