Gabriel Martinelli Transfer: Arsenal Star Joins Al-Hilal for £60m

The Brazil international ends a seven-year spell in north London after Al-Hilal completed a major move for the 25-year-old.

The £60 million fee surpasses the £40 million Arsenal received from Liverpool for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and represents another significant change to Mikel Arteta's title-winning squad.

Arsenal Sell Martinelli for Club-Record £60m

Martinelli's Arsenal exit had started to look increasingly possible during the summer, but the size of the final deal is significant.

Al-Hilal have paid £60 million for the winger, giving Arsenal a record return on a player they originally signed as an 18-year-old from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019.

He leaves having played a major role in Arsenal's rise under Arteta and was part of the squad that finally ended the club's long wait for another Premier League title last season.

Why Did Arsenal Sell Gabriel Martinelli?

Martinelli's position in the squad had changed.

He made 30 Premier League appearances during Arsenal's title-winning campaign but started only 11 of them.

Competition on the left side has also increased following the arrival of Christos Tzolis, while Eberechi Eze can operate from similar attacking areas.

Arsenal therefore faced a decision between keeping Martinelli as part of the squad or accepting a huge fee for a player who was no longer guaranteed to start.

At £60 million, they chose the latter.

Martinelli Leaves After Seven Years at Arsenal

Martinelli arrived in England as a relatively unknown teenager and quickly became one of Arsenal's most exciting young players.

His best Premier League season came in 2022/23 when he scored 15 league goals as Arsenal mounted an unexpected title challenge.

His pace, pressing and ability to attack space made him a natural fit for Arteta's early Arsenal sides.

He eventually leaves with 41 goals and 24 assists from 191 Premier League appearances.

Arsenal's Attack Has Changed

Martinelli is not the only established attacker to leave the Emirates this summer.

Gabriel Jesus has joined Barcelona, while Leandro Trossard also moved on.

That represents a major shift in the attacking group that helped Arsenal develop into Premier League contenders.

The club are now placing greater responsibility on their newer attacking options alongside Bukayo Saka and Eze.

Was £60m Too Good for Arsenal to Turn Down?

From a financial perspective, it is difficult to argue with the deal.

Arsenal bought Martinelli for a fraction of the fee they have now received and his departure becomes one of the club's most profitable pieces of transfer business.

The bigger question is whether they have enough attacking depth after allowing several forwards to leave in the same window.

That question will only really be answered once the season develops.

What Next for Martinelli?

Martinelli now becomes another major name to move from the Premier League to Saudi Arabia.

For Al-Hilal, the attraction is obvious.

They are getting a 25-year-old Brazil international who should still be entering the strongest years of his career rather than a player arriving towards the end of it.

For Arsenal, it closes the book on one of the longest-serving players of the Arteta era.

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