Gabriel Martinelli is leaving Arsenal for Al-Hilal in a deal worth up to €70 million, capping one of the more remarkable arcs in recent Premier League history. The Brazilian winger, who arrived at the Emirates for roughly £6 million from Brazilian club Ituano in 2019, is now the subject of Arsenal’s largest outgoing transfer ever.
The two clubs have reached a verbal agreement on a base fee of approximately €65 million, with add-ons pushing the total to €70 million. Martinelli’s contract with the Saudi Pro League side is expected to run longer than four years, with an annual salary exceeding €20 million. A medical has been scheduled, and a formal announcement could arrive over the weekend.
From bargain buy to record sale
Martinelli’s trajectory at Arsenal reads like a scouting department’s greatest hit. Signed as an 18-year-old from Brazil’s lower divisions for about £6 million, he went on to make 278 appearances for the club, scoring 62 goals. During the 2025-26 season alone, he contributed 11 goals across 53 appearances as Arsenal captured the Premier League title.
The deal surpasses Arsenal’s previous record outgoing transfer, which sat in the range of £35-40 million when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain departed for Liverpool. Martinelli’s exit blows past that benchmark comfortably, even before the add-ons kick in.
