Gabriel Martinelli transfer agreement reached as Arsenal finally smash record
Gabriel Martinelli is set to leave Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)
Arsenal have agreed to sell Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal.
Martinelli, 25, has been subject to interest from a number of clubs this summer after falling down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium. He lost his place to Leandro Trossard near the end of last season and has since seen Christos Tzolis come in and start as Mikel Arteta's first-choice left winger.
But now, according to Fabrizio Romano, Martinelli is set to leave Arsenal and bring the curtain down on his seven-year spell in north London. It's believed the package involved is worth more than £55.7million and would therefore be Arsenal's record sale, eclipsing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's £35m move to Liverpool in 2017.
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The Brazil international has been given permission to travel to Saudi Arabia and undergo a medical ahead of signing a long-term contract. Should the deal go ahead as planned, Martinelli could make his Al-Hilal debut when they travel to Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.
Martinelli is set to follow Ollie Watkins through the doors at Al-Hilal after the Aston Villa forward agreed to join the Saudi side in a £45m deal. The duo are poised to add more strength and depth to Al-Hilal's front line following Crysencio Summerville's move from West Ham earlier in the summer.
Gabriel Martinelli is leaving Arsenal(Image: David Price, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
A transfer for Martinelli had been coming through the summer and he was left out of the squad to face Manchester City in the Community Shield and the Premier League season-opener against Coventry City as rumours increased. His final appearance for the Gunners came against Como earlier this month.
Arteta addressed Martinelli's future in his pre-Aston Villa press conference on Thursday. "Everybody knows and recognised how much we love Gabi and whatever the outcome is, it is because everyone agrees to that," he said.
"We have had conversations. I know what is in each other's hearts, and the words that came through in that conversation make me happy. But it is inevitable you have to say certain things that are tough."
Arsenal are next in action when they travel to Villa in the Premier League on Monday. The Gunners will be looking to make it two wins from two following the opening day win against Coventry.
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