Martinelli's £60m exit makes Al‑Hilal his new home in Saudi Pro League

Gabriel Martinelli's departure to Al‑Hilal ends his seven‑year spell at Arsenal, leaving the Gunners with a void on the left flank and giving the Saudi side a high‑profile addition ahead of the new season. The 25‑year‑old signs a four‑year deal, with reports valuing the move between £60 million and €65 million, making it Arsenal's most lucrative exit.

Fee figures and record status

Media outlets have quoted the fee at £60 million (US$81.2 million), while a later report cited €65 million plus bonuses, and some English sources suggested the amount could rise to about €70 million. Either way, the transfer eclipses Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain’s £35 million move to Liverpool in 2017, becoming the club’s biggest sale.

Impact on Arsenal's left side

Martinelli’s exit follows the sale of fellow left‑sided forward Leandro Trossard to Besiktas and the arrival of Greek winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. With Eberechi Eze expected to feature more and England internationals Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka able to operate on the wing, Arsenal will need to reshuffle its attacking options.

During his time at the London club, Martinelli made 278 appearances, scoring 62 goals and providing 34 assists. He earned 27 caps for Brazil but was omitted from the squad for the Community Shield win over Manchester City and the subsequent Premier League victories over Coventry and Aston Villa.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright said the treatment of Martinelli left him feeling “uncomfortable” and that the player deserved “more respect”. Arsenal announced the deal on X, posting: “Thank you for everything and best of luck, Gabi.”

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Al‑Hilal's squad boost

Al‑Hilal announced the signing on Thursday afternoon, confirming a contract until 2030. The Saudi Pro League side also secured Ollie Watkins in the same window, bolstering their attacking line‑up.

Some outlets initially reported the fee as €65 million, while others cited €70 million; a few even misspelled the club as Al‑Hilat in early coverage. The club’s official Twitter account welcomed “Gabi” to “the house of the leaders”.

The Premier League transfer window closed on Tuesday, whereas the Saudi Pro League deadline remains on Sunday, giving Al‑Hilal time to finalise paperwork before the new season begins.

(Alastair Grant/AP) LONDON — Brazil forward Gabriel Martinelli ended a seven‑year spell at Arsenal by joining Al‑Hilal on Thursday. The move was confirmed by the club’s tweet, and the player is expected to train with his new teammates ahead of the Saudi league clash against Al‑Shabab on Friday.