Gabriel Martinelli has left Arsenal to join Al-Hilal in a transfer worth €70m, according to Transfermarkt, making the 25-year-old winger the most expensive sale in the London club’s history.
The move sets a new benchmark for Arsenal’s outgoing transfers, with the previous record almost doubled. That mark had stood at €38m, the fee Liverpool paid to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal in 2017.
Martinelli spent seven years with Arsenal after establishing himself as part of the club’s senior squad. During that time, the Brazil international made 278 appearances for the club in all competitions.
He scored 62 goals for Arsenal and also provided 36 assists. His record transfer away from the club brings his spell in north London to an end and represents the biggest fee Arsenal have received for a player.
Martinelli has signed a contract with Al-Hilal which runs until 2030. The agreement commits the winger to the Saudi Arabian club for the next four years, following his lengthy period with Arsenal.
The €70m fee is significant because it marks a major increase on Arsenal’s previous record sale. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s move to Liverpool in 2017 had been the club’s highest-value departure at €38m, but Martinelli’s transfer has surpassed that figure by €32m.
Across his seven years at Arsenal, Martinelli became a long-serving member of the squad, contributing 98 goals and assists in total across his 278 matches. His departure means the club has now completed its most valuable player sale on record, while Al-Hilal has secured a winger who has accumulated extensive experience with Arsenal.
The transfer also closes an important chapter of Martinelli’s career. He leaves Arsenal having spent the majority of his professional journey with the London side, recording 62 goals and 36 assists before agreeing to continue his career with Al-Hilal.
Transfermarkt’s valuation of the deal places Martinelli’s move well above the previous Arsenal record. The comparison with Oxlade-Chamberlain’s €38m transfer underlines the scale of the latest agreement and confirms its place as the club’s biggest sale.
Martinelli’s contract at Al-Hilal is set to run through to 2030, giving the Brazilian a long-term arrangement with his new club. For Arsenal, the deal delivers a record outgoing fee and brings an end to a seven-year association with the player.