Arsenal's Martinelli joins Al-Hilal in £60m move

WHAT HAPPENED
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has completed a move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal for a guaranteed fee of £60m, with a sell-on clause included. The 25-year-old has signed a long-term contract, bringing to an end his seven-year association with the Gunners.

Martinelli's departure follows clear signals from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta that he was not in the club's plans for this season; the player had 12 months remaining on his contract and was omitted from Arsenal's first two matchday squads. At Al-Hilal he will join a squad that already includes Ollie Watkins and Crysencio Summerville and is managed by Simone Inzaghi.

KEY CONTEXT
- Martinelli moved to Arsenal from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019.
- He featured 53 times in all competitions last season and scored 11 goals as Arsenal won the top-flight title.
- Al-Hilal sit joint-top of the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr.
- Media reports indicate Al-Hilal’s wages for Martinelli are significantly higher than his reported £180,000-per-week Arsenal deal; this figure is reported and not officially confirmed by the clubs.

WHY IT MATTERS
The transfer removes a homegrown attacking option who contributed to Arsenal’s title-winning campaign, and it underlines Al-Hilal’s continued recruitment of established Premier League players. For Arsenal, the exit follows a clear managerial decision about squad composition; for Al-Hilal, adding a player with recent Premier League and title experience reinforces their ambitions at the top of the Saudi league.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- How Martinelli integrates into Al-Hilal’s squad and how quickly he features alongside teammates such as Ollie Watkins.
- Any official wage details or contract length disclosed by the clubs.
- How Arsenal adjust their forward options in the wake of his departure and whether further squad moves follow.

KEY FACTS
- Fee: guaranteed £60m, plus a sell-on clause.
- Age: 25; joined Arsenal from Ituano in 2019.
- Last season: 53 appearances and 11 goals; part of Arsenal’s title-winning team.
- Contract situation: had 12 months remaining at Arsenal; told by Mikel Arteta he was not in plans and omitted from the first two matchday squads.
- Al-Hilal context: joint-top of the Saudi Pro League, managed by Simone Inzaghi; teammates include Ollie Watkins and Crysencio Summerville.
- Reported wages: said to be significantly above his reported £180,000-per-week Arsenal salary (media reports; not officially confirmed).