Arsenal’s Record-Breaking Departure: Gabriel Martinelli Completes £60m Move to Al-Hilal

A defining seven-year chapter at the Emirates Stadium has reached its conclusion. Saudi Pro League heavyweights Al-Hilal have officially completed the blockbuster signing of Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal…

By Rahul Roy

September 3, 2026

2 min read

Comments

The 25-year-old winger officially put pen to paper on a four-year contract through 2030 at the Almajdiah Sport Hub in Riyadh, with Arsenal retaining a future sell-on clause.

Gabriel Martinelli: Transfer Breakdown

Metric / Detail	Information
Player	Gabriel Martinelli 🇧🇷
Transfer Fee	£60 Million (€70M straight fee; sell-on clause included)
Contract Duration	4 Years (Until June 2030)
Selling Club	Arsenal FC (Club-record outbound transfer)
Buying Club	Al-Hilal SFC (Roshn Saudi League)
Arsenal Record	278 appearances, 62 goals, 3 major trophies

From Ituano Unknown to Emirates Icon

Martinelli’s Arsenal story remains one of the most romantic recruitment successes in modern Premier League history. Arriving as an unheralded 18-year-old from Brazilian lower-tier side Ituano for just £7 million in 2019, he swiftly captured supporters’ hearts with his relentless pressing, electric pace, and fearless directness.

Over 278 appearances in north London, Martinelli evolved alongside Mikel Arteta’s project, collecting an FA Cup, Community Shield, and the Premier League crown. Yet, football moves quickly. After falling down the attacking pecking order and sitting out early-season matchday squads, both player and club recognized the timing was right for a fresh chapter.

A New Challenge in Riyadh for Gabriel Martinelli

While Martinelli rebuffed interest from elsewhere in Europe, the ambitious project presented by Al-Hilal proved decisive. Backed by the PIF, the Riyadh giants moved aggressively before their domestic deadline closed, integrating the Brazilian international immediately into training ahead of their Friday clash against Al-Shabab.

For Arsenal, receiving £60 million with no add-ons substantially eclipses their previous record departure—the £35 million received for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2017—providing vital financial muscle for upcoming windows.

For continuous updates on transfer market ripples, squad reactions, and in-depth European football coverage, follow along at TechnoSports. You can also read the official statements directly on the Arsenal FC Official Site and follow Saudi league developments on the Roshn Saudi League portal