Gabriel Martinelli has completed a club-record move from Arsenal to Al-Hilal for a reported €70 million (£60m; about US$81.4m), ending his seven-year association with the north London club. The Brazilian winger signed a four-year contract at the Saudi Pro League side, with the deal confirmed in early September 2026.
Arsenal secured the most lucrative transfer departure in their history, while Al-Hilal landed one of the bigger signings of the Saudi window. Reports describe the fee as guaranteed and note that Arsenal hold a sell-on clause if Martinelli is sold again in the future.
Martinelli, 25, had been a key attacking player for Arsenal since joining in 2019. His exit generated significant reaction among supporters, particularly around his farewell message.
Has Gabriel Martinelli officially joined Al-Hilal?
Yes. The official announcement was made on 3 September 2026, after the clubs reached agreement on the €70m package. The move made Martinelli Arsenal’s most expensive departure, surpassing every previous sale in the club’s history.
Gabriel Martinelli
25-year-old Brazilian left winger
€70m / £60m
Four-year contract; Arsenal’s most lucrative departure
Arsenal to Al-Hilal
Confirmed 3 Sept 2026
Hat-trick
Saudi Pro League bow – 13 Sept 2026
Key insights
- Martinelli’s move to Al-Hilal is the most lucrative transfer sale in Arsenal’s club history.
- The fee is universally reported as €70m, with the £60m figure reflecting currency conversion.
- Martinelli never scored a Premier League hat-trick for Arsenal but has already registered one in the Saudi Pro League.
- Fan sentiment favoured the player after his parting statement, with a football.london poll placing support for Martinelli above 50%.
- Analysis describes him as a proven Premier League left winger who struggled against low-block defences — a factor in Arsenal’s willingness to sell.
Transfer snapshot
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Gabriel Teodoro Martinelli Silva |
| Age | 25 (as of Sept 2026) |
| Position | Left winger / forward |
| Previous club | Arsenal (2019–2026) |
| New club | Al-Hilal (Saudi Pro League) |
| Transfer fee | €70m (£60m) |
| Contract length | 4 years |
| Date confirmed | 3 September 2026 |
| Debut milestone | Hat-trick, 13 September 2026 |
| Record note | Arsenal’s most lucrative transfer departure |
Martinelli signed a four-year contract running to 2030. His salary at Al-Hilal is reported at around €20 million per year plus bonuses.
How much did Al-Hilal pay Arsenal for Gabriel Martinelli?
The fee is reported at €70 million, equivalent to £60 million and roughly US$81.4 million. Multiple outlets describe the amount as guaranteed, with a sell-on clause giving Arsenal a share of any future transfer. Several reports note that Al-Hilal also inserted a future-transfer structure or release-style clause, providing further upside for Arsenal.
Is Martinelli’s move Arsenal’s most lucrative transfer departure?
Yes. The sale surpassed every previous departure in Arsenal’s history, a point confirmed across multiple reports. Transfermarkt’s analysis argued that Arsenal were right to sell at this figure, given Martinelli’s profile and the club’s need to refresh its attacking options.
Why are the reported transfer fees in euros and pounds different?
The €70m and £60m figures refer to the same deal. The difference is purely a result of currency conversion between the euro and the pound sterling; both figures are consistent across reporting.
Reports describe the €70m as a guaranteed fee. Arsenal are understood to hold a sell-on clause, and Al-Hilal’s structure includes future-transfer upside. Martinelli’s salary is reported at around €20 million per year plus bonuses under a four-year contract.
Why did Gabriel Martinelli snub Mikel Arteta in his parting statement?
Martinelli’s farewell post to Arsenal supporters drew attention for what it did not say. Many fans focused on the absence of any visible thank-you to Mikel Arteta, and the omission quickly became the dominant talking point around the transfer.
What did Arsenal fans think of Martinelli’s exit statement?
Reaction was emotional and largely sympathetic to the player. A football.london poll reported that more than 50% of Arsenal supporters sided with Martinelli. The Sun noted the absence of a thank-you to Arteta in the player’s goodbye message.
The “snub” framing comes from media analysis of Martinelli’s post. The full wording of the statement has not been published in the available reports, and neither Martinelli nor Arteta has publicly addressed the perceived omission.
Did Gabriel Martinelli score a hat-trick on his Saudi Pro League debut?
Martinelli scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Al Taawoun on 13 September 2026, in what was described as an immediate impact at his new club. The hat-trick was his first for Al-Hilal and his first in eight months, dating back to an Arsenal FA Cup match in January.
He had already scored three goals in four appearances shortly after arriving, according to footballtransfers. The same matchday saw Ollie Watkins also score for Al-Hilal, while Cristiano Ronaldo drew a blank for Al-Nassr.
What kind of player is Al-Hilal getting in Gabriel Martinelli?
Martinelli is a proven Premier League left winger known for his direct running, work rate, and finishing. At Arsenal, his output was strongest in transition, but he struggled against low-block defences — a recurring theme in both tactical analysis and fan discussion.
Al-Hilal’s possession-dominant style in the Saudi Pro League is likely to suit him. With more space in the final third, his movement and finishing could produce higher numbers than his final seasons in north London.
Martinelli is most effective in transition, using pace and direct running to attack space. His Arsenal output dipped when opponents sat deep in a low block. Al-Hilal’s control of possession in domestic matches should create the open situations he thrives in.
What does Martinelli’s exit mean for Arsenal?
The departure is both a sporting loss and a financial win. Arsenal lose a proven Premier League winger at 25, but they gain a record fee that significantly improves their flexibility in the transfer market. Reporting around the move framed it as a major loss, but also a highly lucrative one for the club.
Who will replace Gabriel Martinelli at Arsenal?
No direct replacement has been confirmed. The €70m fee provides Arsenal with the resources to pursue a new wide forward, and the club is expected to reinvest a significant portion of the transfer income in the coming transfer windows.
Why is Arsenal allowing proven Premier League wingers to leave?
Martinelli’s departure was partly shaped by tactical fit. Analysis of his Arsenal career noted recurring struggles against low-block defences, where his end product declined. The record fee, combined with the need to refresh the attacking unit, made the sale attractive despite the sporting loss. The market for elite wingers is complicated, and negotiations can shift quickly, as seen in the case of Vinicius Jr – New Real Madrid Contract, Arsenal Saga & 2026-27 Stats.
When did the Gabriel Martinelli transfer happen?
The move came together in just over two weeks, moving from initial reports to official confirmation, and then to a memorable debut performance.
- — Initial reports emerge that Martinelli is close to joining Al-Hilal in a €70m move with a four-year contract.
- — The transfer is officially confirmed. Martinelli becomes Arsenal’s most lucrative departure.
- — Martinelli’s farewell post draws attention, and the “snub” narrative involving Mikel Arteta begins to circulate.
- — Martinelli scores a hat-trick in Al-Hilal’s 6-0 win over Al Taawoun, making an immediate impact in the Saudi Pro League.
What is confirmed and what remains unclear about the transfer?
Most of the core facts are well established. A few details, however, remain open to interpretation or have not been fully disclosed.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Martinelli left Arsenal for Al-Hilal in a deal reported as €70m/£60m. | The exact wording of Martinelli’s parting statement — the “snub” framing comes from media headlines, not from a published full text. |
| The move was officially confirmed by 3 September 2026. | Whether the €70m fee is entirely guaranteed or includes performance-related components. |
| Martinelli signed a four-year contract running to 2030. | Whether “most lucrative departure” refers to the guaranteed fee only or includes add-ons and bonuses. |
| He scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Al Taawoun on 13 September 2026. | Whether the hat-trick came in his debut or his second Saudi Pro League appearance. |
| The transfer is Arsenal’s most lucrative departure to date. | The full terms of the sell-on clause and any release-style structure included in the deal. |
Why does Martinelli’s move to Al-Hilal matter beyond the fee?
The deal matters on several levels. For Arsenal, the €70m provides significant financial flexibility for reinvestment. Because Martinelli joined at 18 and was developed at the club, the sale represents substantial pure profit in accounting terms, strengthening Arsenal’s position under financial regulations.
For Al-Hilal, the signing is a statement. A 25-year-old Brazil international arriving in his prime, rather than at the end of his career, signals the Saudi Pro League’s continued push for established European-based talent. CBS Sports’ transfer grades were among the analyses assessing the deal’s wider implications.
Tactically, Martinelli’s profile suits Al-Hilal’s system. At Arsenal, he was most effective in transition, using pace and direct running to attack space. His output dipped against low-block defences, a recurring limitation. Al-Hilal’s possession dominance should create the open situations he thrives in. Record transfers have a way of redefining a player’s career, as examined in Shea Charles – Record transfer and Premier League rise.
What do the key reports and reactions say?
The transfer generated extensive coverage, with distinct angles from each outlet.
“Gabriel Martinelli ‘to join’ Al-Hilal in €70m move”
OneFootball, 30 August 2026
“Gabriel Martinelli leaves Arsenal in £60m Al-Hilal switch… becomes Arsenal’s most lucrative transfer departure”
LeaderLive, 3 September 2026
“Over 50 per cent of Arsenal supporters have sided with Gabriel Martinelli over his decision to snub Mikel Arteta in his parting statement”
Football.London, 5 September 2026
What is the bottom line on Gabriel Martinelli’s move to Al-Hilal?
Gabriel Martinelli’s €70m transfer to Al-Hilal is one of the most significant departures in Arsenal’s recent history and one of the Saudi Pro League’s most notable signings of the window. The record fee, the four-year contract, the early hat-trick, and the emotionally charged farewell all combine to make this a move that will be examined for some time. Arsenal now hold the financial freedom to reshape their attack, while Martinelli has already begun writing a new chapter in Saudi Arabia.
Frequently asked questions about Gabriel Martinelli’s transfer
How old is Gabriel Martinelli?
Gabriel Martinelli is 25 years old as of the 2026-27 season.
How much does Gabriel Martinelli earn at Al-Hilal?
Reports put his salary at around €20 million per year plus bonuses, under a four-year contract running to 2030.
When does Gabriel Martinelli’s contract at Al-Hilal expire?
His Al-Hilal contract runs for four years, until 2030.
Did Martinelli ever score a hat-trick for Arsenal?
He never scored a Premier League hat-trick for Arsenal. His last hat-trick before the Al-Hilal one came in an Arsenal FA Cup match in January 2026.
Could Martinelli still play for a top European club in the future?
A future transfer or loan back to Europe is hypothetically possible, but nothing in current reports suggests it. His Al-Hilal contract runs for four years.
What was in Martinelli’s farewell post to Arsenal?
The exact wording has not been published in full in available reports. Fans and media focused on the absence of any visible thank-you to Mikel Arteta.
Sophie Kendall is Culture & Events Editor at DailyCity.co.uk, covering restaurants, nightlife, theatre, exhibitions, festivals and city life.