London giants Arsenal have reportedly finalized the transfer of Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal. The deal for the 25-year-old is understood to be worth approximately $81 million, concluding shortly after the Premier League’s summer transfer window officially closed.
While neither Arsenal nor Al Hilal have publicly confirmed the precise financial details of the transfer, reports from UK media outlets indicate that the agreement, which was finalized on September 3rd, is valued at around £60 million, equivalent to approximately $81 million. This significant move occurred even though the transfer window for incoming players in the English top flight had already shut.
Martinelli’s departure marks one of the most expensive sales in Arsenal’s history. To put the figure into perspective, a previous record-breaking sale for the North London club was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s transfer to Liverpool in 2017, which commanded a fee of £35 million (approximately $47 million), making Martinelli’s move substantially larger.
At his new club, Al Hilal, in the Saudi Pro League, Martinelli is expected to sign a four-year contract. He will join a league that has rapidly attracted global football stars, and will notably face competition from prominent figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al Nassr.
Al Hilal has been particularly active in the transfer market, with Martinelli’s acquisition following other high-profile signings. Among these is the recent arrival of striker Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, in a deal reportedly worth $69 million, underscoring Al Hilal’s ambition to bolster its squad with top talent from European leagues.
During his tenure at Arsenal, Martinelli was a key player. Last season, the gifted forward made 53 appearances across all competitions, scoring 11 goals. He played a crucial role in Arsenal’s strong Premier League title challenge, a campaign that saw them push for their first league trophy in 22 years. Overall, Martinelli featured in nearly 300 matches for the Gunners, netting 62 goals since joining the club. He was also part of the squads that secured the FA Cup in 2020 and the Community Shield in 2023.
Despite the closure of the primary European transfer windows, particularly in the Premier League, clubs in England retain the right to sell players to leagues where the transfer window remains open. However, they are no longer permitted to bring in new signings themselves.
