Martinelli Joins Al-Hilal from Arsenal for £60 Million

Gabriel Martinelli has officially left Arsenal to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in a £60 million deal, concluding his seven-year tenure with the Gunners. The 25-year-old Brazil international has signed a four-year contract with Al-Hilal, who are currently joint-top of the league with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.

Arsenal will receive a guaranteed £60 million, which includes a sell-on fee. Martinelli joined Arsenal from Brazilian club Ituano in 2019 and became a significant player in their attack, making 53 appearances last season and scoring 11 goals, contributing to Arsenal's Premier League title win for the first time since 2004.

However, with only 12 months left on his contract, manager Mikel Arteta indicated that Martinelli was not part of his plans for the new season, leading to his exclusion from the first two matchday squads. Al-Hilal has offered Martinelli a substantial salary increase from his reported £180,000-a-week earnings at Arsenal.

He will join former Premier League players Ollie Watkins and Crysencio Summerville at Al-Hilal, managed by Simone Inzaghi. Martinelli expressed his excitement for the move, stating, “Proud to be blue, proud to be Al-Hilal,” in an unveiling video.