Gabriel Martinelli has completed a high-profile transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, marking the most lucrative sale in Arsenal's history with a reported fee of around £60 million. The agreement is structured as a fixed‑price deal that also incorporates a sell‑on clause, ensuring Arsenal will benefit from any future move the Brazilian forward might make.
This figure eclipses the previous club record set in the summer of 2017 when Arsenal sold Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain to Liverpool for roughly £40 million. Martinelli first arrived at the Emirates Stadium at the age of 18, having been signed from his hometown club Ituano in Brazil. Because the Gunners acquired him on a free transfer, the entire £60 million now recorded as a transfer fee appears as pure profit on Arsenal’s financial statements, a boost to the club’s accounting books at a time when many Premier League teams are tightening their budgets.
The 25‑year‑old’s decision to head to Saudi Arabia comes after he rejected an earlier approach from Turkish giants Galatasaray. The Turkish side had tabled a bid of about £38.9 million, but Martinelli indicated that a move to Turkey did not align with his personal or professional aspirations at that moment, preferring to keep his options open for a different challenge. By finalising the Al Hilal deal, Arsenal’s total income from player sales this summer has now topped £120 million, a substantial cash influx that will likely be reinvested in the squad during the upcoming transfer window. Martinelli’s departure follows the summer sale of fellow left‑winger Leandro Trossard, who joined Turkish club Besiktas for a fee reported to be around £17 million.
Both exits leave a noticeable gap on Arsenal’s left flank, a position that the club has already begun to address by bringing in Greek attacker Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. Tzolis started both of Arsenal’s opening Premier League victories this season, while Martinelli was unavailable for those matches. The move has sparked a range of reactions among former players and supporters. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, speaking to Sky Sports after the first‑day win over Coventry, expressed discomfort with the way Martinelli’s situation was handled by the club and argued that the Brazilian deserved greater respect in the negotiations.
Wright’s comments underline the emotional dimension of high‑profile transfers, especially when a fan‑favorite leaves after several years of service. 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 delivering 24 assists. He featured in 30 league games during the title‑winning campaign of 2022‑23, although only 11 of those were starts – the fewest starts he had recorded since the 2020‑21 season. Despite a relatively reduced role in the latter stages of that triumph, his contributions were vital in helping the Gunners break a 22‑year wait for a league crown.
With Martinelli’s exit, only one player remains from the original squad that Mikel Arteta inherited when he took over as head coach on 20 December 2019, succeeding Unai Emery after Freddie Ljungberg’s brief caretaker spell. That player is Bukayo Saka, who has become the face of the club’s new era. Arteta’s overhaul of the roster has been dramatic, seeing the departure of seasoned veterans such as David Luiz and Alexandre Lacazette and the arrival of fresh talent that propelled the team from a 15th‑place finish to league champions.
William Saliba, another notable name, was technically an Arsenal player when Arteta arrived but spent the 2019‑20 season on loan at Saint‑Étienne. He did not make his Premier League debut for the Gunners until the opening match of the 2022‑23 season, a 2‑0 victory over Crystal Palace. Martinelli’s early years under Arteta were hampered by injuries, but he enjoyed a breakout season in 2022‑23, scoring 15 league goals and playing a key role as Arsenal chased their first Premier League title in 19 years.
However, his form dipped in the following months, and he eventually fell to third place in the hierarchy of left‑wing options, behind new signing Christos Tzolis and English midfielder Eberechi Eze. The transfer also highlights a broader trend of Premier League talent moving to the Saudi Pro League, a competition that has been investing heavily to attract high‑profile players.
Alongside Martinelli, other recent moves include Fabio Vieira heading to Porto for £7.7 million, Jakub Kiwior also joining Porto for £19 million, Gabriel Jesus moving to Barcelona for £8.6 million, and Christian Norgaard transferring to Everton for £7 million. Additionally, young prospect Ethan Nwaneri has been sent on loan to Borussia Dortmund to gain experience, while Karl Hein joined Werder Bremen for £2.6 million. In summary, Gabriel Martinelli’s transfer to Al Hilal not only sets a new financial benchmark for Arsenal but also underscores the club’s evolving strategy in a rapidly changing market. The £60 million deal provides a significant profit boost, frees up wage space, and reflects the growing allure of the Saudi league for European talent.
For Arsenal supporters, the departure marks the end of an era for a player who arrived as a teenager, grew into a key contributor, and helped deliver a long‑awaited league title before moving on to a new challenge in the Middle East.