Arsenal's Record Transfer Sale Set as Martinelli Joins Al Hilal

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has officially joined Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal for a transfer fee of €70 million (approximately £60 million). The deal breaks Arsenal's record for the highest player sale, surpassing the previous record set when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain moved to Liverpool for £35 million in 2017.

Transfer fee details: fully guaranteed, including a sell-on clause

According to The Athletic, the fee paid by Al Hilal for the 25-year-old Martinelli is fully guaranteed and does not include add-ons, but the contract includes a sell-on clause. On August 23, The Athletic had already reported that Al Hilal were pursuing Martinelli, with the Saudi club and the player's representatives holding talks over a potential transfer.

Martinelli was left out of Arsenal's matchday squads for the first three games of the season, including the Community Shield match against Manchester City and Premier League victories over Coventry City and Aston Villa. His last appearance for Arsenal dates back to last season.

Third Premier League attacker to join Al Hilal this summer

Martinelli is the third attacking player signed by Al Hilal from a Premier League club this summer. Previously, Crysencio Summerville joined from West Ham United in July, while Ollie Watkins transferred from Aston Villa last month. The Saudi club has been particularly active in strengthening its attacking line.

Martinelli's contract with Arsenal was originally set to run until 2027, with the club holding an option to extend it by another 12 months. However, the player ultimately chose to leave. He posted a photo of himself wearing Al Hilal's blue shirt on his personal social media account, with only a blue heart emoji as the caption.

Arsenal's attacking overhaul: multiple departures and new arrivals

Arsenal have made significant changes to their attacking options this summer. Besides Martinelli's departure, Leandro Trossard moved to Besiktas and Gabriel Jesus joined Barcelona. At the same time, Arteta's side signed winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. Arsenal had also shown interest in Vinicius, but the Brazil international eventually signed a new long-term contract with Real Madrid.

Last season, Martinelli made 53 appearances for Arsenal, helping the team win their first Premier League title since the 2003-04 season and reach the Champions League final. In 2019, Martinelli joined Arsenal from Brazilian club Ituano and made 278 first-team appearances for the Gunners, scoring 62 goals.

It is worth noting that Martinelli had previously received an offer from Galatasaray. The Athletic reported on August 12 that Arsenal had received a €45 million (approximately £38.4 million) offer from Galatasaray, but the player's representatives later informed Arsenal that Martinelli was not interested in the move. He ultimately chose Saudi Arabia.