£60M Football Blockbuster: Gabriel Martinelli Completes Shock Transfer to Al-Hilal
Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has completed a permanent transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for an initial £60 million. The 25-year-old Brazilian, who spent seven years at the Emirates, joins Al-Hilal on a long-term contract, bringing his pace and dribbling ability to bolster their pursuit of domestic and continental silverware.
Brazilian international Gabriel Martinelli has officially completed a permanent transfer from Premier League side Arsenal to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. The move, confirmed by both clubs on Thursday, involves an initial fee of £60 million paid upfront to Arsenal, along with a sell-on clause that secures the English club a percentage of any future transfer for the player. This significant transaction marks the end of Martinelli's seven-year journey at the Emirates Stadium, where he evolved from a relatively unknown talent signed from Ituano, a Brazilian fourth-division team, into a crucial first-team contributor for the Gunners.
During his tenure with Arsenal, Martinelli, now 25 years old, made over 180 appearances across all competitions, netting 41 goals. He quickly became a fan favourite, admired for his direct running style and relentless work ethic on the pitch. His contributions were vital, including being part of the squad that secured the FA Cup in 2020 and playing a pivotal role in Arsenal's challenge for the Premier League title during the 2022-23 season. Despite these achievements and his significant impact, his playing time had noticeably decreased in recent months, primarily due to increased competition within Mikel Arteta's formidable attacking lineup, which boasts stars like Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and other recent acquisitions.
The decision for Martinelli's departure was accelerated by ongoing discussions with manager Mikel Arteta during pre-season, where the Spanish coach reportedly informed the winger that he did not feature in his tactical plans for the upcoming campaign. With only 12 months remaining on his existing contract with Arsenal, the timing aligned for both parties. Al-Hilal, who had previously expressed interest in the forward during the summer transfer window, capitalized on this situation to secure the talented Brazilian.
Martinelli originally joined Arsenal in 2019 for a reported £6 million, arriving as an unheralded 18-year-old. His move to Al-Hilal sees him sign a long-term contract with the Riyadh-based club, which currently shares the top spot in the Saudi Pro League standings alongside Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr. The acquisition of Martinelli underscores Al-Hilal's continued statement of intent within the Saudi league’s aggressive recruitment strategy, adding another high-profile European-based talent to an already star-studded squad featuring names like Neymar, Aleksandar Mitrović, and Rúben Neves. Al-Hilal hopes that Martinelli's renowned pace and dribbling prowess will provide a fresh attacking impetus as they vigorously pursue both the league title and strong performances in the AFC Champions League, with the player expected to join his new teammates immediately.