Gabriel Martinelli joins Al-Hilal from Arsenal in a record €70m deal, ending his seven-year spell in north London with a four-year Saudi contract

Brazil international Gabriel Martinelli joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal from Arsenal on Thursday, September 3, 2026, completing a record €70 million transfer after seven seasons in north London.

Also read: FIFA Records $9.89bn Transfer Spending Surge in 2026

The 25-year-old winger has signed a four-year contract with Al-Hilal, bringing an end to a notable Arsenal career that began when he arrived from Brazilian club Ituano in 2019.

Al-Hilal officially confirmed the move, saying Martinelli would represent the club’s first team for the next four years. The signing ceremony took place at the Almajdiah Sport Hub in Riyadh.

The reported €70 million package makes Martinelli Arsenal’s most expensive outgoing transfer, surpassing the previous record associated with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s move to Liverpool.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reported that the agreement also includes a sell-on clause, giving Arsenal a future financial interest in the Brazilian should he subsequently move elsewhere.

Martinelli leaves Arsenal having made 278 appearances across competitions, scoring 62 goals and contributing 36 assists. He won the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield during his time with the club.

His departure also closes a seven-year chapter that began with considerable promise. Martinelli quickly established himself as an energetic and direct attacking option after joining Arsenal from Ituano, eventually becoming a Brazil international and representing his country at the 2022 and 2026 World Cups.

The winger’s final Arsenal season ended with a Premier League title, adding another significant achievement to his spell at the Emirates. He scored 11 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions during the campaign, according to Brazilian reports.

The move to Al-Hilal represents a fresh challenge at a club that has continued to strengthen its squad with established international talent.

Martinelli joins a Saudi side that is competing at the top end of the domestic game and has recently recruited several players with Premier League experience.

Al-Hilal said Martinelli was expected to join first-team training on Thursday evening ahead of the club’s Saudi Pro League meeting with Al-Shabab on Friday.

The Brazilian also made clear that winning silverware was central to his decision to move to Saudi Arabia.

“I came here to win titles and make the fans happy,” Martinelli said in a message published by Al-Hilal.

His arrival comes during a significant period of recruitment for Al-Hilal, with the club looking to maintain its position among Saudi Arabia’s leading sides.

The addition of a 25-year-old Brazil international gives the team another dynamic attacking option and adds further international profile to its squad.

For Arsenal, however, the transfer presents a different calculation. The club has secured a substantial return on a player signed for a comparatively modest fee in 2019, but Martinelli’s departure also reduces the attacking depth available to manager Mikel Arteta.

The Guardian reported that Arsenal ended the summer transfer window without adding a major attacking replacement for Martinelli, despite attempts to strengthen the forward line. The club also lost Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard during the window.

That has prompted questions about Arsenal’s attacking options as the club attempts to defend its Premier League title.

Christos Tzolis arrived during the summer, while other established attacking players remain available, but Martinelli’s pace and ability to operate from the left will not be straightforward to replace.

For Martinelli, the move offers the opportunity to begin a new chapter while still in his prime. For Al-Hilal, it is a statement signing. For Arsenal, it is a record-breaking sale that brings both financial reward and a significant sporting decision.

Also read: FIFA Records $9.89bn Transfer Spending Surge in 2026

The €70 million deal therefore carries implications well beyond the transfer fee. It marks the end of Martinelli’s Arsenal story and the beginning of a new Saudi chapter for a Brazilian forward whose career in England produced 62 goals, major domestic honours and a lasting connection with the club’s supporters.