Medical booked today as Arsenal prepare to complete transfer after deadline day
Gabriel Martinelli is still expected to leave Arsenal for Saudi Arabia(Image: Getty Images)
Gabriel Martinelli's proposed move to Al-Hilal is still expected to go through, despite the summer transfer window closing in England. The 25-year-old has agreed to join the Saudi Pro League side from Arsenal in a deal worth £55.7million plus £4.3m in add-ons.
As the Saudi Arabia transfer window does not close until September 6, Al-Hilal have more time to get the deal complete. According to The Athletic, the Brazil international is poised to undergo his medical on Wednesday before signing a four-year contract at the Riyadh-based club.
From then, the move is set to be announced with Martinelli departing the Emirates Stadium seven years on joining the club from Ituano. In that time, he has helped the Gunners win the FA Cup, Premier League and Community Shield three times, scoring 62 goals and providing 36 assists in 278 matches.
With the fee for Martinelli rising up to £60m, he is set to become Arsenal's most expensive sale ever, eclipsing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's £35m move to Liverpool in 2017.
Martinelli's Arsenal contract is due to expire next summer and it felt as though this was the club's final chance to get mega money for the player, unless he signed a new deal. But it did seem like he would be sold after losing his place to Leandro Trossard last season.
Although Trossard has since left to sign for Besiktas, Christos Tzolis has arrived in a £34m move from Club Brugge and the Gunners were searching for a left winger up until Tuesday's deadline.
Gabriel Martinelli is set to leave Arsenal for Saudi Arabia(Image: Getty Images)
Galatasaray made a move for Martinelli earlier in August, but he rejected the chance to join the Turkish side. He made it clear he preferred a switch to Saudi Arabia and that is where he is heading.
Speaking to reporters at the Sobha Realty Training Centre last week ahead of the Gunners' clash against Aston Villa, Arteta left the door open to Martinelli's departure. The Arsenal boss said: "That's another personal situation that we're dealing with.
"I think everybody knows and recognises how much we love Gabi. Whatever the outcome is, it will be because everybody agrees to that."
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When Martinelli joined Arsenal during the summer of 2019, he couldn't hide his excitement. The then-18-year-old said: "This is a dream since I was a child, and also my family's dream for me to be playing in Europe and playing for a big team like Arsenal."
"I am going to take this opportunity," added the forward at the time.
Martinelli could make his Al-Hilal debut when they travel to Al-Shabab on Friday. They then host Neom on Monday before making the trip to Al-Taawoun five days later.
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