Arsenal Agree Club-Record £60m Sale of Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal

Arsenal have agreed a club-record £60 million sale of Gabriel Martinelli to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, with the Brazilian winger set to undergo a medical ahead of finalising the move before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

The reported fee, worth around €70 million, comfortably surpasses Arsenal's previous record sale of £35 million, received from Liverpool for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in 2017. Al-Hilal have offered Martinelli a lucrative four-year contract worth a reported €20 million per season, with the deal said to include a penalty clause that would make the Brazilian more expensive for any European club looking to sign him before 2030.

Martinelli joined Arsenal from Brazilian club Ituano as an 18-year-old in 2019 for a fee of around £6 million, initially arriving as a relative unknown before quickly establishing himself under Mikel Arteta. He went on to play a regular role in Arsenal's title-challenging sides over the following seasons, and was part of the squad that ended the club's Premier League title drought last season. Despite the affection the winger commands among supporters, his path to regular minutes had become increasingly difficult of late, with the club also chasing a marquee attacking upgrade to replace him.

Martinelli's departure is expected to be followed by further outgoings before the window shuts, with Arsenal also reportedly closing in on deals to send Gabriel Jesus to Barcelona and Fabio Vieira to Hamburg. Speaking on the situation, Arteta acknowledged the ongoing conversations with players over their futures, saying such discussions go both ways. For Arsenal, the world-record fee represents a significant financial boost as they continue reshaping their attacking options for the season ahead.