Gabriel Martinelli completed his move from Arsenal to Al-Hilal for a guaranteed fee of 70 million euros (£60m), Arsenal officially confirmed on September 3, 2026. The Athletic’s James McNicholas reported the deal crossing the line on the same day, with Al-Hilal’s official account marking the occasion with a simple post: ‘He chose Blue.’
The fee surpasses the £35-40m Arsenal received for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when he joined Liverpool in 2017, making Martinelli the most valuable player the club has ever sold. A sell-on clause was included, meaning Arsenal retain a financial interest in any future transfer.
The deal itself
Interest from the Saudi Pro League side developed quickly through August. BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel reported on August 23 that Arsenal were in advanced talks with Al-Hilal for a fee of at least £50m, and The Athletic reported Al-Hilal’s pursuit on the same day. Sky Sports then reported on August 30 that a £55.7m agreement had been reached and Martinelli had been cleared for a medical. The final confirmed figure came in higher, at £60m, with no performance-related add-ons attached.
Martinelli had been under contract at Arsenal until 2027, with an option for a further 12 months. His reported wages at Arsenal stood at £180,000 per week, and Al-Hilal’s offer was understood to be significantly above that figure. An approach from Galatasaray had also surfaced earlier in the window, with The Athletic reporting a 45 million euro offer on August 12, but Martinelli’s camp informed Arsenal he had no interest in that destination.
Why the move happened
The clearest signal that Martinelli’s Arsenal career was nearing its end came before any official announcement. He was absent from the matchday squad for each of the club’s first three games of the new season, covering the Community Shield against Manchester City and Premier League wins over Coventry City and Aston Villa. That public omission drew sharp words from former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who told Sky Sports: ‘The way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable.’
Arsenal reshaped their attacking department considerably this summer. Gabriel Jesus departed for Barcelona in an £8.6m deal, Leandro Trossard joined Besiktas, and Fabio Vieira was sold to Hamburg for around £7.7m. Christos Tzolis arrived from Club Brugge as one of the incomings. Martinelli’s exit fits a broader pattern of the club moving on several established attackers at once.
Martinelli’s Arsenal career in numbers
Martinelli joined Arsenal from Brazilian club Ituano in July 2019 as a teenage prospect and grew into one of the more reliable attacking players in the Premier League. Over seven seasons he made 278 first-team appearances and scored 62 goals. Last season, his most productive in terms of games played, he appeared 53 times across all competitions and contributed 11 goals as Arsenal won the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final.
Arsenal’s official statement listed his club honors as the Premier League, the FA Cup in 2020, and the FA Community Shield in 2023. Internationally, Martinelli earned 27 caps for Brazil, won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, appeared at the 2024 Copa America, and represented his country at both the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups.
What it means for Al-Hilal
Martinelli becomes the third attacker Al-Hilal have signed from last season’s Premier League. Crysencio Summerville arrived from West Ham in July, and Ollie Watkins joined from Aston Villa before Martinelli completed his medical. The Saudi club have built their forward line substantially around players who featured in one of the most competitive English top-flight seasons in recent memory.
For Arsenal, the guaranteed nature of the £60m fee provides clean accounting with no dependency on future sell-on triggers beyond the clause protecting their interests in a subsequent move. The record sale figure underlines how far Martinelli’s valuation rose from the modest fee paid to Ituano back in 2019.
FAQ
How much did Arsenal sell Gabriel Martinelli for?
Arsenal sold Martinelli to Al-Hilal for a guaranteed fee of 70 million euros, equivalent to £60m or roughly $81m. The deal includes no add-ons but does contain a sell-on clause for Arsenal.
How many goals did Martinelli score for Arsenal?
Martinelli scored 62 goals in 278 first-team appearances for Arsenal across all competitions during his seven years at the club.
When did Arsenal confirm the Martinelli transfer to Al-Hilal?
Arsenal officially confirmed the transfer on September 3, 2026. The Athletic’s James McNicholas also reported the move as completed on the same date.