3 weeks ago
31
Gabriel Martinelli is leaving Arsenal for Al-Hilal in a deal worth up to €70 million, capping one of the more remarkable arcs in recent Premier League history. The Brazilian winger, who arrived at the Emirates for roughly £6 million from Brazilian club Ituano in 2019, is now the subject of Arsenal’s largest outgoing transfer ever.
The two clubs have reached a verbal agreement on a base fee of approximately €65 million, with add-ons pushing the total to €70 million. Martinelli’s contract with the Saudi Pro League side is expected to run longer than four years, with an annual salary exceeding €20 million. A medical has been scheduled, and a formal announcement could arrive over the weekend.
From bargain buy to record sale
Martinelli’s trajectory at Arsenal reads like a scouting department’s greatest hit. Signed as an 18-year-old from Brazil’s lower divisions for about £6 million, he went on to make 278 appearances for the club, scoring 62 goals. During the 2025-26 season alone, he contributed 11 goals across 53 appearances as Arsenal captured the Premier League title.
The deal surpasses Arsenal’s previous record outgoing transfer, which sat in the range of £35-40 million when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain departed for Liverpool. Martinelli’s exit blows past that benchmark comfortably, even before the add-ons kick in.
But the move isn’t coming from a place of strength for the player. Martinelli’s role under manager Mikel Arteta had diminished, and the Spaniard recently acknowledged the winger’s “personal situation” while carefully noting he remained an Arsenal player.
Why Saudi Arabia, and why now
Before agreeing to the Al-Hilal move, Martinelli reportedly rejected a €45 million offer from Turkish giants Galatasaray. The gap between that bid and the Saudi package tells you everything about the financial gravity the Saudi Pro League now exerts on the transfer market.
The move fits neatly into Al-Hilal’s broader summer strategy, which has involved pursuing high-profile signings including Crysencio Summerville and, potentially, Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
Martinelli’s current contract with Arsenal runs until 2027, with an option to extend for an additional year. That gave the Gunners some leverage in negotiations, but with a player whose minutes were drying up, holding firm on a higher price risked the asset depreciating further.
What this means for Arsenal and the market
For Arsenal, the €70 million incoming provides significant reinvestment capital during a window where Arteta is clearly reshaping his squad. Martinelli’s reduced role suggests the manager already has a vision for his attack that doesn’t center on the Brazilian, and the proceeds from this sale give the club flexibility to pursue alternatives.
Martinelli is 24, not 34. He’s a full international for Brazil. Two seasons ago, he was a starter for a title-winning side. The fact that a player with that profile is heading to Riyadh rather than to another top European club says something about the financial asymmetry that now defines the global transfer landscape.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) ·