Gabriel Martinelli has ended his seven-year association with Arsenal after completing a £60 million transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal, making the Brazil international the most expensive player ever sold by the London club.
The agreement, according to Sky Sports, consists of a fixed transfer fee alongside a sell-on clause. The deal surpasses Arsenal’s previous record outgoing transfer, set when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Liverpool for £40 million in 2017.
Martinelli’s departure marks the end of a lengthy spell at Arsenal that began when he arrived from Brazilian club Ituano as an 18-year-old. Having developed into an established first-team player during his time in north London, he now leaves for Saudi Arabia in a deal that establishes a new benchmark for Arsenal’s player sales.
The financial structure of the transfer also gives Arsenal a significant accounting benefit. Because Martinelli was signed as a teenager, Sky Sports reports that the £60 million received for his transfer represents pure profit on the club’s books.
His move to Al Hilal comes after interest from Turkey, where Galatasaray reportedly made an offer of about £38.9 million. Martinelli, however, was not prepared to make a move to Turkey at this stage of his career, opening the way for the eventual transfer to the Saudi Pro League.
The Brazilian’s exit also pushes Arsenal’s income from player sales during the summer beyond £120 million. His departure follows Leandro Trossard’s move to Besiktas, adding another substantial outgoing transfer to the club’s business during the window.
Arsenal have also strengthened their squad during the same period, with Christos Tzolis arriving from Club Brugge. The new signing featured in Arsenal’s opening two Premier League matches, while Martinelli was absent.
Difficult Final Season
Martinelli’s departure follows a challenging final campaign at Arsenal, during which his involvement in the Premier League starting line-up declined.
The forward made 30 Premier League appearances during the season but started just 11 of those matches. That was his lowest number of league starts since the 2020/21 campaign, highlighting the reduced role he had in the team during his final season.
The situation had previously attracted criticism from Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who expressed discomfort with how Martinelli was being treated.
Wright said Martinelli deserved “more respect”, reflecting the concern surrounding the Brazilian forward’s reduced starting opportunities during the campaign.
Despite the difficulties of his final season, Martinelli departs Arsenal with a substantial record of service. He made 191 Premier League appearances for the club, scoring 41 goals and registering 24 assists.
His seven-year spell therefore ends with him having established himself as an important attacking player for Arsenal while also leaving a lasting mark on the club’s transfer history through the record fee secured for his departure.
Record Arsenal Sale
The £60 million agreement places Martinelli ahead of all previous Arsenal departures in terms of transfer value. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s £40 million move to Liverpool had previously stood as the club’s record sale since 2017.
The new deal represents a £20 million increase on that previous benchmark, while the inclusion of a sell-on clause means the agreement also gives Arsenal a potential financial interest in Martinelli’s future transfer activity.
For the player, the move brings a new chapter after seven seasons with the Gunners. Martinelli arrived in England as an 18-year-old from Ituano and went on to make almost 200 Premier League appearances for Arsenal.
His decision to reject the reported Galatasaray proposal before agreeing to join Al Hilal also shaped the route to his eventual departure. The Brazilian was unwilling to move to Turkey at this point in his career, but ultimately accepted the opportunity to continue his career in the Saudi Pro League.
For Arsenal, the transfer provides both a club-record sale and a major boost to their summer player-sale income. With Trossard also departing for Besiktas, the club’s revenue from outgoing players has now moved beyond £120 million.
Martinelli leaves Arsenal having made 191 Premier League appearances, scoring 41 goals and supplying 24 assists. His final season may have been difficult, but his departure is accompanied by a financial milestone that places his £60 million move at the top of Arsenal’s all-time sales list.
Martinelli Completes £60m Al Hilal Move, Becomes Arsenal’s Record Sale
