Gabriel Martinelli joins Al-Hilal from Arsenal in record £60m deal

Gabriel Martinelli arrived in north London in July 2019 as an 18-year-old fulfilling a lifelong ambition. In a statement at the time, he described joining Arsenal as a dream since I was a child, a sentiment shared by his family. He departs on 3 September 2026 as a surplus asset in a £60m transaction that sets a new record for the highest sale in the club's history.

The Brazil international has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal on a permanent transfer. The deal consists of a fixed £60m fee and includes a sell-on clause, according to The Guardian. Because Arsenal originally acquired Martinelli from Brazilian club Ituano for approximately £6m, Sky Sports reports the sale represents pure profit on the club's accounting books.

Related YouTube video

This financial windfall pushes the total money Arsenal has received from player sales this summer to over £120m. The £60m fee surpasses the previous record for an Arsenal sale, though sources differ on the exact prior benchmark. Football London and Sky Sports cite the previous record as £40m from the 2017 sale of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool, while The Standard and Mirror record that figure as £35m.

The exit follows a stark decline in Martinelli's standing under manager Mikel Arteta. Despite winning a Premier League title last season—ending the club's 22-year wait for the trophy—the 25-year-old saw his role diminish. During that title-winning campaign, he made 30 league appearances, but only 11 were starts, his lowest number of starts since the 2020/21 season.

The marginalization became absolute during the start of the 2026/27 campaign. Martinelli was omitted from the matchday squad for the Community Shield and subsequently left out of the opening Premier League match against Coventry. The Standard reports that discussions with Arteta regarding his place at the club eventually made the winger more open to listening to offers, after he had been told he was not part of the manager's plans for the season.

Martinelli's departure is part of a wider overhaul of Arsenal's attack. He follows Gabriel Jesus, who moved to Barcelona on deadline day, and Leandro Trossard, who also left the club this window. To fill the gap on the left flank, Arsenal signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge; Tzolis started the opening-day victory over Coventry in the spot Martinelli once occupied.

The move to Saudi Arabia was not the only option on the table, but it was the only one Martinelli accepted. He previously rejected an offer of approximately £38.9m from Galatasaray, as he was not keen on moving to Turkey at that stage of his career. Football London reports that Al-Hilal targeted Martinelli after the Saudi club was priced out of a move for Pedro Neto.

The club's official farewell highlights a contrast between the public tribute and the tactical reality. Arsenal's statement praised Martinelli for playing an integral role in the Premier League victory and thanked him for his 278 appearances and 62 goals. Yet, in the weeks preceding the sale, Arteta described the winger's exit as a personal situation and admitted that certain discussions were tough.

Martinelli's tenure is summarized by the following record:

• Appearances: 278 across all competitions
• Goals: 62
• Assists: 36 (per Football London)
• League Stats: 191 Premier League appearances, 41 goals, 24 assists
• Honors: Premier League winner, 2020 FA Cup, 2023 FA Community Shield

The Mirror notes that Arsenal had spent the window linked to high-cost left-wing alternatives, including Vinicius Junior and Morgan Rogers, but failed to secure either. With the window closing, Christos Tzolis remains the only new attacker added to the squad.

As Martinelli signs a long-term contract with Al-Hilal to join a side currently joint-top of the league with Al-Nassr, the tactical void at the Emirates remains partially unfilled. It is currently unconfirmed whether Arsenal will seek an additional signing in the left-wing area to replace the combined departures of Martinelli and Trossard.

International Career and Honors

Beyond his contributions in North London, Martinelli established himself as a fixture in the Brazil national team. According to the Mirror, the 25-year-old earned 27 caps for his country. His international resume includes a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, as well as appearances at the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups and the 2024 Copa America.

The timing of the exit was accelerated by Martinelli's contract status; Yahoo Sports reports he had only 12 months remaining on his deal at the Emirates Stadium. This limited leverage, combined with his exclusion from the squad for the Community Shield and the opening match against Coventry, solidified the move to Saudi Arabia. While he had rejected a move to Turkey last month, the Al-Hilal offer provided a permanent solution for a player who had already been informed he was not part of the current season's plans.

The transfer now leaves Arsenal with a restructured attacking line. With Gabriel Jesus at Barcelona and Martinelli in Riyadh, the club has leaned on the arrival of Christos Tzolis. The manager's recent comments at the Sobha Realty Training Centre suggest a focus on mutual agreement during these departures, though the void on the left wing remains a point of contention. Determining if the squad requires further reinforcements in that position is the next step.