Gabriel Martinelli Set for Al-Hilal Move as Arsenal Negotiates Record Sale
Al-Hilal is nearing an agreement with Arsenal for forward Gabriel Martinelli, offering the Brazilian international a salary exceeding $23 million (€20 million) plus bonuses to entice him to the Saudi Pro League, according to CBS Sports sources. Club-to-club negotiations are progressing well, with a remaining gap of around $9.3 million (€8 million) to finalize the sale of Martinelli, who has been excluded from Arsenal’s squad for their opening competitive matches this season. Sources indicate that Arsenal aims to include a sell-on clause in the deal to safeguard their interests should Martinelli later transfer from Al-Hilal. Initially focused on remaining with the Premier League champions, Martinelli is reportedly more receptive to the move after discussions with Mikel Arteta, who explained his omission from the matchday squad. Joining Al-Hilal would nearly double Martinelli's pre-tax earnings, a significant increase from the contract he signed with Arsenal in February 2023, which is set to expire in June, with an option for a 12-month extension. Last season, Martinelli scored a team-high 15 goals in the Premier League and contributed six assists, but his performance dipped dramatically, netting only once in the last season, starting just 11 times. Despite previous interest from top Saudi clubs, Martinelli had resisted moves, including offers from Al-Nassr and Galatasaray. A transfer to Al-Hilal would mark a club-record sale for Arsenal, reflecting substantial profit since they signed him from Ituano for about $8 million in 2019. This capital could be reinvested in acquiring a superstar attacker, with Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid emerging as a potential target. Al-Hilal is optimistic about pairing Martinelli with Ollie Watkins, who was absent from Aston Villa’s squad during their 4-0 loss to Brighton. Unai Emery, Villa's manager, stated, "You can call him and you can call his agent and he can respond," regarding Watkins' situation. Previously, Al-Hilal sought Pedro Neto but paused talks with Chelsea, who are valuing the player at $136 million.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-08-24