Arsenal have officially settled on a club‑breaking transfer fee of £55.7 million with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal for the departure of Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli. In parallel, the Gunners have also reached a preliminary agreement for fellow Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus to join Spanish giants Barcelona. Martinelli has now received clearance to undergo a medical examination with Al Hilal, a step that will cement the deal as the most lucrative sale in Arsenal’s history.
The transaction eclipses the previous record set in the summer of 2017 when Liverpool paid £40 million for Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain. The Brazilian winger’s compatriot, Gabriel Jesus, is likewise on the verge of exiting the North London club after Arsenal and Barcelona agreed in principle on a fee of roughly £8.6 million.
Both clubs are now ironing out the finer points of the agreements, and the moves appear to be heading toward finalisation in the coming days. Plans are already underway for the 29‑year‑old striker to travel to Spain, with a possible departure as early as Monday. While Barcelona remain the primary destination, there have also been rumours linking Jesus with a potential switch to Serie A side Napoli, although the Spanish club’s interest seems to be taking precedence. For fans following the Transfer Centre live on their mobile devices, the latest updates are being pushed through the Sky Sports app.
Those without a Sky subscription can still gain instant, contract‑free access by downloading the app. It should be noted that the Jesus deal is being handled independently of Barcelona’s ongoing pursuit of Argentine forward Julián Álvarez, according to sources at Sky Sports News.
Gabriel Jesus originally arrived at Arsenal from Manchester City in a £45 million deal four seasons ago. During his time in London he has found the net 32 times in 123 appearances, though his involvement in the Premier League last campaign was limited to just three starts. A serious knee injury suffered in a January 2025 FA Cup tie against Manchester United sidelined him for the majority of the previous year. On the international stage, Jesus has earned 64 caps for Brazil but has not featured for the Seleção since November 2023.
Barcelona, meanwhile, have been actively searching for a proven goal‑scorer to bolster their attacking options this summer. Head coach Hansi Flick has commented that the club is "on a good path at the moment" regarding squad development and recruitment strategy.
"Of course I am happy with my team," Flick said ahead of Barcelona’s fixture against Rayo Vallecano. "Deco, our football director, is working to strengthen the squad. We are not under pressure.
Deco has done a fantastic job so far, and it’s great to see the quality in training. As a coach, that is what matters most. We are on a good path at the moment." In addition to the high‑profile departures, Arsenal have also secured a transfer for midfielder Fabio Vieira, who is set to join German side Hamburg. The fee for Vieira is reported to be around £7.7 million, and he is currently travelling to Germany to finalize his move.
When the sales of Martinelli, Jesus and Vieira are combined, Arsenal stand to receive approximately £72 million in transfer income. This would bring the club’s total earnings this window to about £45 million already realised, with the remaining deals expected to push the total well beyond the £70 million mark.
These transactions represent a significant reshaping of Arsenal’s squad ahead of the new season, as the club looks to reinvest the proceeds into fresh talent and address areas of need. The departure of two prominent Brazilian internationals marks the end of an era for the Gunners, but also opens the door for emerging players to step up and for new signings to make an immediate impact. Fans are encouraged to stay tuned for further updates on the transfers, as well as to participate in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £1 million – entry is free and available through the Sky Sports platform.