Arsenal have sealed a landmark transfer agreement that will see Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli depart for Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal for a fee of £55.7 million – the highest amount the London club has ever received for a player. The deal, which has already been approved for Martinelli to undergo a medical examination with the Saudi Pro League side, eclipses the previous club record of £40 million that Arsenal collected from Liverpool when Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain left in the summer of 2017. In parallel with Martinelli's exit, Arsenal have also reached a provisional agreement with Spanish powerhouse Barcelona regarding the future of fellow Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus. The Gunners have reportedly accepted an £8.6 million offer from the Catalan club, and negotiations are now focused on ironing out the contractual details.
If all goes to plan, Jesus could be on a flight to Spain as early as Monday, joining a Barcelona squad that is actively seeking to bolster its attacking options for the upcoming campaign. Jesus's potential move to Barcelona comes after a season in which his playing time at Arsenal was severely limited. The 29‑year‑old striker, who arrived at the Emirates Stadium from Manchester City for a £45 million fee four years ago, managed only three Premier League starts last term. A serious knee injury sustained during a January 2025 FA Cup tie against Manchester United kept him out for the majority of the 2024‑25 season, and he has not featured for Brazil's national team since November 2023 despite having earned 64 caps in total.
While there were rumours linking him with a transfer to Serie A side Napoli, the Barcelona offer appears to be the most concrete at this stage. Barcelona’s head coach Hansi Flick has spoken positively about the club’s current trajectory, noting that the recruitment strategy is progressing well and that there is no undue pressure on the coaching staff. He praised sporting director Deco for his work in strengthening the squad, emphasizing that the quality shown in training sessions is a key indicator of future success.
Flick’s comments suggest that the club views the acquisition of Jesus as a separate matter from its ongoing pursuit of Argentine striker Julian Alvarez, a rumor that has persisted throughout the summer transfer window. Beyond the high‑profile exits of Martinelli and Jesus, Arsenal have also confirmed a deal to sell midfielder Fabio Vieira to German side Hamburg for an estimated £7.7 million.
Vieira, who has shown flashes of promise during his time at the club, will travel to Germany shortly to finalize his paperwork and complete the move. Taken together, the three sales represent a potential influx of roughly £72 million in transfer revenue for Arsenal. The club has already recorded about £45 million in outgoing transfers this window, meaning that the combined total could bring the summer’s earnings close to the £90 million mark once all paperwork is signed and the deals are officially registered.
The financial boost from these departures will likely give Arsenal greater flexibility in the upcoming transfer market, allowing them to reinvest in areas of the squad that require reinforcement. Fans can expect the club to target emerging talents or established players who can add depth and quality to a side that narrowly missed out on major trophies last season. While the news of Martinelli’s record sale dominates headlines, it also underscores a broader trend of Premier League clubs increasingly looking to the Middle East and other emerging leagues for lucrative deals. Al Hilal, backed by substantial financial resources, have been active in attracting top‑flight talent from Europe, and Martinelli’s move could pave the way for further high‑profile signings in the Saudi Pro League.
For Arsenal supporters, the departure of two beloved Brazilian forwards marks the end of an era, but it also opens a new chapter. The club’s hierarchy will need to balance the immediate need for attacking firepower with the longer‑term project of developing home‑grown players and integrating new signings.
The upcoming pre‑season will be crucial for assessing the squad’s depth and determining how best to replace the creative spark that both Martinelli and Jesus provided during their tenure. In summary, Arsenal have negotiated a historic £55.7 million transfer for Gabriel Martinelli, secured a provisional £8.6 million deal for Gabriel Jesus with Barcelona, and arranged a £7.7 million sale of Fabio Vieira to Hamburg. These moves collectively could generate around £72 million in income, substantially enhancing the club’s financial position ahead of the new season and setting the stage for strategic reinvestment in the squad.