Gabriel Martinelli has officially ended his seven-year association with Arsenal, completing a blockbuster £60m move to Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal.
The Brazilian forward, who was a pivotal figure in the Gunners’ recent Premier League title success, made the switch after being frozen out of the first-team picture by Mikel Arteta at the start of the new campaign.
Arsenal sanctioned the departure of Martinelli in a deal worth a guaranteed £60m. The 25-year-old, who arrived in North London as a teenager from Ituano in 2019, has committed to a long-term contract with the Riyadh-based outfit.
The agreement also includes a sell-on clause, ensuring the Gunners will profit from any future transfer involving the winger.
The move represents a massive financial shift for the player, with reports suggesting his new salary in the Middle East significantly dwarfs the £180,000-per-week package he earned in the Premier League.
Martinelli was quick to embrace his new surroundings, appearing in an unveiling video on the club’s social media channels to announce, “Proud to be blue, proud to be Al-Hilal.”
Despite making 53 appearances across all competitions last term and scoring 11 goals to help Arsenal secure their first league title since 2004, Martinelli’s status changed rapidly over the summer. With only 12 months remaining on his contract, Arteta reportedly informed the Brazilian that he did not feature in his tactical plans for the current campaign.
The decision to sideline such a prominent figure has sparked debate among the Arsenal faithful, particularly given Martinelli’s longevity and historic contribution to the squad’s development.
The Brazilian winger made 191 Premier League appearances for the Gunners, though his influence waned after starting just 11 league matches during the title-winning campaign.