Gabriel Martinelli has completed a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilit, marking the most lucrative departure in Arsenal’s history with a fixed‑fee transfer worth £60 million, plus a future sell‑on clause. This figure eclipses the previous club record set in the summer of 2017 when Arsenal sold Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain to Liverpool for around £40 million. The Brazilian forward originally arrived at the Emirates Stadium as an 18‑year‑old from his hometown club Ituano. Because Arsenal acquired him for a modest fee, the £60 million cash inflow now appears as pure profit on the club’s financial statements.
Martinelli’s decision to head to the Saudi Pro League follows a rejected approach from Turkish giants Galatasaray earlier in the summer. The Turkish side had tabled a bid of roughly £38.9 million, but the 25‑year‑old opted against a move to Istanbul at this stage of his career.
His exit pushes the total amount Arsenal have collected from player sales this window to more than £120 million, a sum that reflects a broader strategy of capitalising on the market value of its assets. The transfer comes just weeks after fellow left‑winger Leandro Trossard was dispatched to Turkish club Beşiktaş, further reshaping Arsenal’s attacking options.
Since joining the Gunners in 2019, Martinelli has made 191 Premier League appearances, finding the net 41 times and providing 24 assists. He featured in 30 league matches during Arsenal’s title‑winning 2022/23 campaign, although only 11 of those were starts – his lowest involvement since the 2020/21 season. The reduced playing time, combined with the arrival of new signings such as Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, saw him slip to third in the pecking order for the left‑wing role. Arsenal’s left side was bolstered in the meantime by the signing of Tzolis, who started both of the club’s opening Premier League victories while Martinelli was unavailable.
After the first‑day win over Coventry City, former Arsenal striker Ian Wright expressed discomfort with how the club had handled Martinelli’s situation, arguing that the 25‑year‑old deserved greater respect and consideration. Martinelli’s tenure at Arsenal began under the guidance of Unai Emery, who appointed him after the club’s takeover by American investors. When Mikel Arteta took over as head coach on 20 December 2019, he inherited a squad that included seasoned internationals such as David Luiz and Alexandre Lacazette. Arteta’s overhaul transformed a side that had been languishing in the lower half of the table into Premier League champions, ending a 22‑year wait for the trophy.
While William Saliba was technically an Arsenal player when Arteta arrived, he spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Saint‑Étienne and only made his Arsenal league debut in the opening match of the 2022/23 season, a 2‑0 victory over Crystal Palace. Martinelli, on the other hand, endured a injury‑plagued start under Arteta but blossomed in the 2022/23 season, scoring 15 goals and helping the Gunners push for the title. His form, however, waned toward the end of the campaign, allowing newcomers Christos Tzolis and Eberechi Eze to overtake him in the selection hierarchy.
Following Martinelli’s departure, Bukayo Saka remains the sole player from the original Arteta‑inherited squad still at Arsenal. Saka, who joined the club as a teenager, has become a cornerstone of the team’s attacking play and a symbol of continuity amid the rapid turnover of personnel. The Al Hilal deal also includes a sell‑on clause, ensuring Arsenal could benefit from any future transfer involving Martinelli.
This clause reflects a growing trend among top European clubs to safeguard potential upside when selling promising talents to leagues outside the traditional “big five.” In addition to Martinelli’s move, Arsenal’s summer activity featured several other notable transfers: Fabio Vieira headed to Porto for £7.7 million, Jakub Kiwior also joined Porto for £19 million, Leandro Trossard moved to Beşiktaş for £17 million, Gabriel Jesus transferred to Barcelona for £8.6 million, Christian Nørgaard signed with Everton for £7 million, Ethan Nwaneri went on loan to Borussia Dortmund, and Karl Hein joined Werder Bremen for £2.6 million. The club’s aggressive buying and selling strategy illustrates a modern approach to squad building, balancing on‑field performance with financial sustainability.
While the departure of a fan‑favorite like Martinelli may stir emotions among supporters, the substantial fee received provides Arsenal with resources to reinvest in emerging talent, infrastructure, or further squad reinforcement. Overall, Gabriel Martinelli’s transfer to Al Hilal not only sets a new financial benchmark for Arsenal but also underscores the evolving dynamics of the global transfer market, where clubs from emerging leagues are willing to invest heavily to attract proven Premier League performers.
The move marks the end of a significant chapter for the Brazilian forward, who will now seek to make his mark in Saudi Arabia while Arsenal looks ahead to the next generation of stars to carry on the legacy of the 2022/23 title‑winning side.