Arsenal have officially reached an agreement with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal for the transfer of Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli, setting a new club record with a fee of £55.7 million. The deal, which also includes a provisional agreement for fellow Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus to join Barcelona, marks a significant reshaping of the Gunners' attacking options. Martinelli has now received clearance to travel to Saudi Arabia for a medical examination with Al Hilal, a step that brings the transaction close to completion.
Should the move go through, it will eclipse the previous highest outbound fee Arsenal ever received – the £40 million Liverpool paid for Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain back in the summer of 2017. The Brazilian winger’s departure will therefore be recorded as the most lucrative sale in the club’s modern history.
At the same time, Gabriel Jesus is poised to follow a similar path out of North London. Arsenal have negotiated a deal in principle with Barcelona for a transfer fee of roughly £8.6 million. While the exact terms are still being finalised, all parties are working intensively to iron out the remaining details, and the transfer appears to be moving swiftly toward a definitive conclusion. Plans are already being drawn up for the 29‑year‑old striker to journey to Spain, potentially as early as the coming Monday, to complete his medical and paperwork.
Jesus had previously been linked with a move to Serie A club Napoli, but the Barcelona offer has now taken precedence. Sky Sports has confirmed that the negotiations concerning Jesus are entirely separate from Barcelona’s ongoing pursuit of Argentine forward Julián Álvarez, so the two deals should not interfere with one another. The Brazilian forward arrived at Arsenal from Manchester City in 2019 for a reported £45 million. Over the course of four seasons he accumulated 32 goals in 123 appearances across all competitions, but his involvement in the Premier League waned dramatically last season, where he managed just three starts.
A serious knee injury sustained during an FA Cup tie against Manchester United in January 2025 sidelined him for the majority of the 2024‑25 campaign, further limiting his playing time. Internationally, Jesus has earned 64 caps for Brazil, though he has not featured for the Seleção since November 2023.
Barcelona, under the guidance of head coach Hansi Flick, have been actively seeking to bolster their attacking line‑up this summer. Flick has spoken positively about the club’s current trajectory and recruitment strategy, noting that the team is "on a good path at the moment" and that there is no undue pressure on the staff. He praised sporting director Deco for his work in strengthening the squad, emphasizing that the quality observed in training sessions is a key indicator of progress.
Flick’s remarks came ahead of Barcelona’s upcoming match against Rayo Vallecano, where he expressed confidence in his players and the club’s direction. In addition to the high‑profile departures of Martinelli and Jesus, Arsenal have also secured a transfer for midfielder Fabio Vieira, who is set to join German side Hamburg for an estimated fee of £7.7 million. Vieira is currently en route to Germany to finalise the paperwork and complete his move.
Collectively, the sales of Martinelli, Jesus and Vieira could generate approximately £72 million in transfer income for Arsenal. This figure adds to the £45 million already realised from other departures during the current window, indicating a substantial influx of funds that the club can potentially reinvest in new talent or other strategic initiatives. The broader context of these transactions reflects a period of transition for Arsenal, as they look to reshape their squad after a season that fell short of expectations.
The departure of two Brazilian internationals, both of whom arrived at the club with considerable fanfare, signals a shift in the club’s recruitment philosophy and a willingness to capitalise on market value. While the loss of Martinelli, a dynamic winger known for his pace and technical ability, will be felt, the financial windfall provides Arsenal with flexibility to target replacements or to strengthen other areas of the team. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the club allocates the newly acquired funds.
Potential avenues include investing in emerging talents from the academy, securing proven Premier League performers, or exploring the increasingly competitive market for South American prospects. Whatever the strategy, the record‑breaking nature of Martinelli’s sale underscores Arsenal’s growing stature as a club capable of negotiating top‑tier deals on the global stage. As the summer transfer window progresses, the Gunners’ board will need to balance immediate squad needs with long‑term planning, ensuring that the financial gains translate into on‑field success.
The upcoming pre‑season fixtures and training camps will offer a glimpse into how the team adapts to the loss of key attacking players and whether new signings can fill the void left by Martinelli, Jesus and Vieira. In summary, Arsenal have secured a historic £55.7 million fee for Gabriel Martinelli’s move to Al Hilal, while also arranging a provisional £8.6 million transfer for Gabriel Jesus to Barcelona.
Alongside the sale of Fabio Vieira to Hamburg for around £7.7 million, these deals could bring total incoming transfer revenue to roughly £72 million, supplementing the £45 million already generated this window. The club now faces the challenge of reinvesting this capital wisely to maintain competitiveness in the Premier League and on the European stage.