Gabriel Martinelli has completed a transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, setting a new club record for Arsenal with a £60 million fee. The agreement is structured as a fixed‑price payment and also contains a sell‑on clause, meaning Arsenal will receive a percentage of any future transfer fee if Al Hilb al decides to sell the Brazilian forward later on. This figure eclipses the previous high watermark for an Arsenal departure, which was the £40 million received for Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain when he joined Liverpool back in the summer of 2017. Martinelli first arrived at the Emirates Stadium at the age of 18, having been signed from his hometown club Ituano in Brazil.
Because he was acquired for a relatively modest sum, the £60 million exit now appears as pure profit on Arsenal’s financial statements, a boost to the club’s balance sheet after a summer in which the Gunners have already generated more than £120 million from player sales. The Brazilian winger’s move to the Saudi Pro League follows a brief flirtation with Turkish giants Galatasaray earlier this summer.
Galatasaray reportedly tabled an offer of around £38.9 million, but Martinelli expressed a lack of enthusiasm for a move to Turkey at that stage in his career, opting instead to wait for a different opportunity. When Al Hilal entered the picture, the prospect of joining a club that has dominated domestic competition and is investing heavily in international talent proved more attractive. At 25, Martinelli’s departure marks the latest in a series of high‑profile exits from Arsenal’s left‑flank. In July, fellow left‑sided attacker Leandro Trossard was sold to Turkish side Beşiktaş, and the Gunners have already bolstered that side of the pitch by signing Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge.
Tzolis featured in Arsenal’s opening two Premier League victories, both of which took place without Martinelli in the lineup. The transfer has not been without its critics.
Former Arsenal forward Ian Wright, speaking to Sky Sports after the first‑day win over Coventry City, said he felt “uncomfortable” with the way Martinelli’s situation was handled and argued that the 25‑year‑old deserved “more respect” from the club’s hierarchy. Wright’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among some supporters who felt the young Brazilian had not been given a fair chance to cement a regular starting berth. Martinelli’s tenure at Arsenal began in 2019, and over the course of four seasons he amassed 191 Premier League appearances, netting 41 goals and providing 24 assists.
In the title‑winning campaign of 2022‑23, he featured in 30 league matches, though only 11 of those were starts – his lowest number of starts since the 2020‑21 season. Despite limited minutes, his contributions helped Arsenal break a 22‑year drought and capture the Premier League crown.
With Martinelli’s exit, only Bukayo Saka remains from the core group that Mikel Arteta inherited when he took over as manager on December 20, 2019, following the departure of Unai Emery. Arteta, who was appointed as Emery’s permanent successor after a brief interim spell by Freddie Ljungberg, has overseen a dramatic transformation of the squad. Players such as David Luiz and Alexandre Lacazette have departed, while new signings and academy graduates have been integrated to lift the Gunners from a 15th‑place finish to champions. One notable example of Arteta’s long‑term planning is centre‑back William Saliba.
Although Saliba was technically an Arsenal player when Arteta arrived, he spent the 2019‑20 season on loan at Saint‑Étienne and did not make his Premier League debut for the Gunners until the opening game of the 2022‑23 season, a 2‑0 victory over Crystal Palace. This illustrates Artetta’s willingness to nurture talent patiently before granting them a place in the first team.
Martinelli’s early years under Arteta were hampered by injuries, but he hit his stride in the 2022‑23 season, scoring 15 league goals as Arsenal pushed for the title. However, a dip in form and the arrival of new attacking options such as Christos Tzolis and Eberechi Eze saw him slip to third in the pecking order for the left‑wing role. The transfer list accompanying the announcement also highlighted several other moves involving Arsenal players and prospects: Fabio Vieira to Porto for £7.7 million, Jakub Kiwior to Porto for £19 million, Leandro Trossard to Beşiktaş for £17 million, Gabriel Jesus to Barcelona for £8.6 million, Christian Norgaard to Everton for £7 million, Ethan Nwaneri on loan to Borussia Dortmund, and Karl Hein to Werder Bremen for £2.6 million. These deals collectively underline a strategic shift in Arsenal’s transfer policy, focusing on recouping value and reinvesting in younger talent.
Beyond the footballing narrative, the announcement included a promotional note encouraging fans to use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player and to participate in a "Super 6" competition with a chance to win £1 million, emphasizing the commercial side of modern football. In summary, Gabriel Martinelli’s £60 million move to Al Hilal not only establishes a new record for Arsenal’s outgoing transfers but also reflects broader trends in the club’s financial and sporting strategy.
The sale contributes to a summer that has already seen the Gunners generate over £120 million from player departures, while also signalling a continued evolution of the squad under Artetta’s stewardship. As the Saudi side prepares to add a proven Premier League talent to its ranks, Martinelli embarks on the next chapter of his career, leaving behind a legacy of 191 league appearances, 41 goals, and 24 assists for Arsenal.