Gabriel Martinelli has left Arsenal for Al-Hilal, as reported by Sportsnet Soccer. The deal, announced on Thursday, sees the 25-year-old forward move to the Saudi Pro League team for a fee reportedly worth 60 million pounds. Martinelli played 278 games for Arsenal and won 27 caps for Brazil.
What the transfer means for Arsenal's summer budget
The transfer of Martinelli follows the sale of Leandro Trossard to Besiktas last month and the signing of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. With Martinelli's departure, Arsenal's squad is undergoing changes, and the club is looking to strengthen its left flank, where Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, and Bukayo Saka can operate. Arsenal is currently in a strong position in the Premier League, standing 2nd in the table with 6 points from 2 games, having won against Coventry and Aston Villa, and boasting a goal difference of +4, with 4 goals scored and 0 conceded. The club's next fixture is against Chelsea at home on 2026-09-06.
Impact on the squad
The transfer of Martinelli is a significant change for Arsenal, and the club will need to adjust its strategy. As Arsenal said, "Thank you for everything and best of luck, Gabi." Ian Wright described the situation as "uncomfortable".
Looking ahead to the next fixture
Arsenal's focus will now shift to the upcoming game against Chelsea, and the club will need to ensure it has a strong squad to compete. The current squad list can be found on our squad page, and the upcoming fixtures are available on our fixtures page. The league table, where Arsenal is currently 2nd, can be viewed on our standings page. The club is also dealing with injuries, with Jurriën Timber, William Saliba, and Cristhian Mosquera currently sidelined, as shown on our injuries page. Arsenal won the Community Shield against Manchester City, and the team is looking to build on this success. The next game against Chelsea will be a challenging one, and Arsenal will need to be at its best to win. The game is scheduled to take place on 2026-09-06.
