Arsenal sell Martinelli to Al-Hilal in post-transfer deadline day deal

What the report says

Arsenal have sold Brazil forward Gabriel Martinelli to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal in a move completed after the European transfer deadline, Al Jazeera reported. The London club confirmed the permanent transfer, while British media cited in the report said the deal was worth a guaranteed £60 million ($81 million), although Arsenal did not disclose a fee. The 25-year-old has signed a four-year contract with Al-Hilal, who are said to be joint leaders of the Saudi league alongside Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.

According to the article, Martinelli becomes Arsenal’s most expensive departure, exceeding the fee received for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2017. He leaves after a long spell at the Emirates Stadium in which he made nearly 300 appearances, scored 62 goals and helped Arsenal win the FA Cup in 2020 and the Community Shield in 2023. Last season he played 53 matches in all competitions and scored 11 times as Arsenal won the top-flight title for the first time since 2004.

The report says Martinelli had been omitted from Arsenal’s first two matchday squads of the season, with manager Mikel Arteta indicating he might struggle for playing time if he stayed. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright publicly criticised the handling of the situation, saying the club should have managed the exit differently. The article also notes that the European transfer window closing on Tuesday did not prevent clubs from selling players outside the continent.