LONDON — Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has joined Saudi side Al-Hilal, the English Premier League champions announced.
No fee was disclosed but British media reports said the deal was worth a guaranteed £60 million ($81 million).
That would make 25-year-old Brazil international Martinelli the most expensive player to leave the London club, following Alex Oxlade Chamberlain’s £35 million exit to Liverpool in 2017.
Martinelli has signed a four-year deal with Al-Hilal, who is currently joint-top of the Saudi Pro League with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
“Gabriel Martinelli has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal on a permanent transfer,” said a statement on Arsenal’s website.
“Proud to be blue, proud to be Al-Hilal,” said Martinelli during an unveiling video on his new club’s social media channels.
He will join Ollie Watkins at Al-Hilal after the England striker left Aston Villa in a deal worth an estimated £51 million, AFP reported.
Martinelli’s departure comes after Arsenal sold fellow left-sided forward Leandro Trossard to Besiktas.
Christos Tzolis has joined from Club Brugge but there are concerns the exits of Martinelli and Trossard could leave Arsenal short of personnel in that part of the pitch.
Martinelli made 53 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring 11 goals, as the Gunners won the top-flight title for the first time since 2004.
