Arsenal have reached a full agreement for the sale of Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal. The Brazilian is expected to fly to Saudi Arabia in the next 48 hours to undergo a medical and finalise his move.
Club-record fee
Martinelli will join Al-Hilal for a £60million fee, making him Arsenal’s record sale. The £35m paid by Liverpool for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2017 was the most the Gunners had previously received for a player.
Seven years at Arsenal
Martinelli spent seven years at Arsenal, joining in the summer of 2019 when Unai Emery was in charge. Mikel Arteta took over five months later and Martinelli was a regular in the sides that first challenged for three years in Premier League title races and then got over the line in May last season.
More departures expected
Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira are expected to follow Martinelli in leaving the club. Standard Sport understands the pair will join Barcelona and Hamburg respectively before Tuesday night’s deadline.
On the talks Arteta has had with Martinelli and Jesus over their futures, he said: "There are those conversations and those conversations go both ways. I'm very satisfied with how these conversations went because I know what is in each other's hearts and the words that come through in that conversation made me really happy. But it's inevitable that at some point you need to have certain discussions and say certain things that sometimes are tough. I think everybody knows and recognises how much we love Gabi. Whatever the outcome is, it will be because everybody agrees to that."
