Al-Hilal Nears Deal for Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli

Saudi Pro League powerhouse Al-Hilal appears to be closing in on one of the most significant transfer stories of the summer window, with reports indicating the club is nearing a deal to sign Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli in a move that would mark another high-profile arrival for Saudi football.

Arsenal are reportedly closing in on a deal to sell the Brazilian winger to Al-Hilal, with the two clubs said to be roughly £7 million apart in negotiations and confident of agreeing on a final fee. Should the transfer go through at the reported valuation, the move would value Martinelli at around £50 million, making it comfortably Arsenal's record sale, eclipsing the previous mark set by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's £38 million departure.

A Sudden Shift in Circumstances

Martinelli's situation at Arsenal has changed dramatically in recent weeks. The winger has reportedly been told by manager Mikel Arteta to find a new club, a decision that has caused significant discomfort among his Arsenal teammates. Despite being one of the squad's longest-serving players, he has been frozen out of recent matchday squads entirely, a stark reversal for a player once considered central to the team's attacking plans.

The exclusion has been particularly pointed. Martinelli was left out of Arsenal's matchday squad for their Community Shield victory over Manchester City, meaning he did not receive a winners' medal, a decision reported to have left him greatly disappointed and left several senior squad members unhappy with the call. Arsenal's summer transfer activity has only reinforced the sense that his departure is imminent, with the club having completed a substantial £34 million deal for attacker Christos Tzolis and made an unsuccessful pursuit of Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, both moves suggesting a broader overhaul of Arteta's left-flank options.

Why Martinelli Is Now Open to Riyadh

Having previously resisted interest from the Gulf, Martinelli's stance appears to have softened considerably. The winger had already rejected a move to Galatasaray earlier in the summer before turning his attention toward the Saudi option. Financially, the move would represent a dramatic upgrade. Al-Hilal are reportedly prepared to nearly double his wages to around £17 million a year, equivalent to roughly £327,000 per week.

There are also personal factors behind his growing willingness to relocate. According to reporting from ESPN Brazil, the player has been drawn to Riyadh in part due to his admiration for the city's quality of life, along with his family's openness to the move. That same report indicated that while optimism surrounds the deal from all three parties involved, Al-Hilal had not yet finalized the transfer fee with Arsenal, nor had every detail of the player's contract with the Saudi club been settled as of the latest update.

Part of a Wider Recruitment Push

Martinelli's potential arrival fits into a broader pattern of Al-Hilal's transfer activity this window. The club has also been in talks over a potential move for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as part of what has been described as a double Premier League swoop, while earlier in their pursuit of attacking reinforcements, the Riyadh club had previously been targeting Wolves winger Pedro Neto before shifting focus toward other options.

For Arsenal, the sale would provide a substantial financial boost as the club looks to fund further additions before the transfer window closes. The North London side is reportedly using funds generated from outgoing sales to pursue Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, who remains one of their primary attacking targets. Arsenal have also reportedly negotiated favorable long-term terms into the Martinelli deal, ensuring they retain a financial stake in his future value.

A Deal Expected to Close Soon

With the transfer window deadline approaching, both clubs appear motivated to finalize terms quickly. Should the move be completed, it would represent another marquee signing for Al-Hilal and the Saudi Pro League more broadly, continuing a pattern of high-profile European departures to the Kingdom that has reshaped global football's transfer landscape in recent seasons. For Martinelli, the switch would mark the end of a seven-year spell in North London and the beginning of a new chapter under Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi in Riyadh.