Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has completed a £60m move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, a guaranteed fee that includes a sell-on clause, bringing his seven-year stint in north London to an end.
The 25-year-old has signed a four-year contract. Al-Hilal currently share top spot in the league with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
Martinelli joined Arsenal from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019 and had a year left on his deal, but Mikel Arteta had informed him he was not in the plans for this season.
In his unveiling on the club’s social channels, Martinelli said he was proud to wear Al-Hilal’s blue.
He will link up with England striker Ollie Watkins, who arrived from Aston Villa in a £51m transfer. Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville has also signed for Al-Hilal, who are coached by Simone Inzaghi, joining from West Ham after their relegation.
Martinelli’s salary in Saudi Arabia is believed to far exceed his reported £180,000 per week at Arsenal.
He made 53 appearances and scored 11 goals last season as Arsenal won the top division for the first time since 2004. However, he was left out of the first two matchday squads this season, with Arteta indicating his minutes would be limited if he stayed.
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright criticised the decision to omit Martinelli from the opening game against Coventry, saying the way the player was being treated made him uncomfortable and that any departure should be handled in a way that also works for Martinelli.