Arsenal sell Martinelli to Al-Hilal in post-transfer deadline day deal

Brazil forward Gabriel Martinelli transfers to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal from Premier League champions Arsenal.Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has joined Saudi side Al-Hilal, the Premier League champions have announced.No fee was disclosed but British media reports said the deal, finalised late on Thursday, was worth a guaranteed 60 million pounds ($81m).Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio acquitted in sex-tape sharing caselist 2 of 4‘I gave everything ⁠I had’: Dzeko retires from Bosnian national teamlist 3 of 4Eto’o calls on African football federations to support FIFA chief Infantinolist 4 of 4Messi retirement and FIFA ban leave Paredes uncertain of Argentina futureend of listThat would make 25-year-old Brazil international Martinelli the most expensive player to leave the London club, following Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s 35 million pounds ($47m) exit to Liverpool in 2017.Martinelli has signed a four-year deal with Al-Hilal, who are 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 pounds ($69m).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 that 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.His nearly 300 games for Arsenal, including 62 goals, also saw him involved in their 2020 FA Cup and 2023 Community Shield successes.