Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has officially joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal for a cost of £60 million.
The transaction, for a guaranteed £60 million plus a sell-on fee, concludes the Brazil international’s seven-year stint in north London.
Martinelli, 25, has signed a four-year contract with Al-Hilal, who are now joint league leaders with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
He joined the Gunners from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019 and had a year left on his contract at Emirates Stadium, but manager Mikel Arteta told him he was not in his plans for the season.
“Proud to be blue, proud to be Al-Hilal,” said Martinelli during an unveiling video on the club’s social media channels.
He will join Ollie Watkins at Al-Hilal, as the England striker left Aston Villa for £51 million.
Following West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League, Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville joined the Saudi side, managed by Simone Inzaghi, this summer.
The earnings Al-Hilal gave Martinelli are understood to be much higher than his alleged £180,000 per week deal at Arsenal.
He appeared in 53 games in all competitions last season, scoring 11 goals as Arsenal won the Premier League title for the first time since 2004.
However, he was left out of Arsenal’s first two matchday squads of the season, with Arteta indicating Martinelli would struggle for game time if he remained at the club.
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright also criticized the club’s choice to leave Martinelli out of the team for the first game against Coventry.
“The way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable,” he told Sky Sports.
“I know they might want him out, and a lot of people might say, ‘Yeah, it’s time for him to move him on.’ But there are ways of doing that, and it should suit him as well as how he wants to leave.”
