Record-breaking £50m move on the horizon
Arsenal are on the brink of selling 25-year-old Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli to Saudi club Al-Hilal for a fee of about £50 million, according to football.london. The transfer would become the most lucrative sale in Arsenal history, eclipsing the £35 million Liverpool paid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2017.
Martinelli’s journey and contract status
Martinelli joined Arsenal in 2015 from Ituano and has since made 278 appearances, scoring 62 goals and helping the club win the Premier League last season. He is in the final 12 months of his contract, which included an option to extend for an additional year. Galatasaray had previously shown interest but withdrew, leaving Al-Hilal as the club pursuing him.
Recent squad movements
The winger was left out of Mikel Arteta’s 18-man squad for the opening-day victory over Coventry at the Emirates Stadium. Meanwhile, Arsenal have added Greek international Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for £34 million, with Arteta praising his “direct, incisive” play.
Other departures
Martinelli would be the latest high-profile exit this summer. Leandro Trossard joined Besiktas earlier in the year, while Jakub Kiwior and Christian Norgaard have also left the club.
Arteta’s comments and future plans
After the Coventry win, Arteta said he was “really happy with the squad we have” and that the focus was on improving existing players rather than adding new signings, despite ongoing links with Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez.
Transfer deadline looming
If the deal is completed before the deadline, Arsenal will have secured a record sale while also bolstering their squad with new signings.
