Arsenal confirm Gabriel Martinelli to Al Hilal transfer as Andrea Berta secures record fee
Gabriel Martinelli has left Arsenal.(Image: Getty Images)
Gabriel Martinelli has left Arsenal to join Al-Hilal in a deal worth £60m, making him the biggest sale in the club's history.
A statement from the club read: "Forever a Gunner. The club can confirm that Gabriel Martinelli has joined Al-Hilal on a permanent deal. Thank you for everything and best of luck, Gabi."
The 25-year-old winger has signed a long-term contract with the Saudi Pro League giants, bringing an end to a seven-year stint at the Emirates Stadium.
Martinelli, signed from Ituano for just £6m in July 2019, featured 278 times for the Gunners across all competitions, scoring 62 goals and providing 36 assists.
The Brazil international fell out of favour towards the end of his spell in north London, but he played a key role in helping Mikel Arteta transform Arsenal into a European powerhouse again.
Martinelli, who won the FA Cup and the Premier League with the Gunners, has ultimately commanded the highest fee in the club's history, smashing the record set by the £35m sale of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool in August 2017.
football.london understands that Arsenal have also embedded a sell-on clause into the agreement, meaning they will receive a percentage of any potential future sale.
Al Hilal approached Arsenal to enquire about the Brazilian's availability, having been put off by Pedro Neto's eye-watering asking price. Galatasaray had also registered an interest in Martinelli, but the Saudi outfit grabbed the bull by the horns and secured his signature.
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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 the winger'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."
On whether he spoke to Martinelli, as well as Gabriel Jesus, who joined Barcelona on deadline day, Arteta said: "Yes, for sure. Those conversations go both ways.
"But I'm very satisfied with how these conversations went because I know what is in each other's hearts, and the words that come through in those conversations make me really happy.
"But it's inevitable at some point you need to have certain discussions and say certain things that sometimes are tough."
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.
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