Arsenal sell Martinelli to Al-Hilal in post

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Published: 2026-09-04T06:00:14.601Z • Permanent link

Arsenal Football Club has sold Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in a post-transfer deadline day deal. The 22-year-old forward, who joined Arsenal in 2019, was initially loaned to the club from Lille before making a permanent move to the Emirates last year. Martinelli's transfer marks a significant departure for the London-based side, which had high hopes for the young Brazilian's future at the club.

Martinelli's departure is the latest in a series of high-profile exits for Arsenal, which has struggled to retain key players in recent years. The club's owners, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, have faced criticism for their handling of player sales, with some accusing them of prioritizing profits over the long-term development of the team. Al-Hilal, meanwhile, has reportedly signed Martinelli for a fee believed to be in the region of £35 million, a sum that is seen as a significant investment in the Saudi Arabian club's prospects for the remainder of the season.

Arsenal's decision to sell Martinelli has been met with widespread criticism from fans and pundits alike, who argue that the club is losing a key player at a critical juncture in its development. The club's manager, Mikel Arteta, had previously expressed his desire to keep Martinelli at the club, but ultimately decided that the sale was in the best interests of the team.

Martinelli's departure from Arsenal has significant implications for the club's prospects for the remainder of the season. With the transfer window now closed, the club will be forced to rely on its existing squad to compete for major honors. This could prove to be a challenging task, particularly if key players such as Martinelli and others continue to leave the club. As a result, Arsenal's owners will be under pressure to make significant investments in the transfer market in the coming months if the club is to have any hope of achieving success.

The impact of Martinelli's departure is not limited to Arsenal, however. The club's decision to sell the young Brazilian forward has significant implications for the wider football industry. The sale of a high-profile player such as Martinelli can have a major impact on the transfer market, driving up prices for other players and influencing the decisions of clubs and agents alike. As a result, the sale of Martinelli is likely to have far-reaching consequences for clubs and players across the globe.

The sale of Martinelli is part of a larger trend in the football industry, in which clubs are increasingly looking to cash in on the transfer market. This trend is driven by a number of factors, including the increasing wealth of clubs in the Middle East and Asia, as well as the growing popularity of football around the world. In recent years, clubs such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have become major players in the transfer market, signing high-profile players from around the world and investing heavily in their squads.