Gabriel Martinelli’s time at Arsenal is coming to an end after Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Brazilian winger is leaving the Gunners to join Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.
The transfer expert delivered his latest update on Sunday afternoon, declaring the move “done and confirmed” after weeks of speculation surrounding Martinelli’s future.
🔵⚪️👋🏼 After Gabriel Jesus, also Gabriel Martinelli leaves Arsenal and joins Al Hilal.
The exclusive story revealed two weeks ago, now done and confirmed. pic.twitter.com/PRMYRErbBq
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 30, 2026
Martinelli’s Arsenal exit now confirmed
This is the clearest indication yet that Martinelli’s seven-year association with Arsenal is effectively over.
Romano had previously reported that negotiations between Arsenal and Al Hilal had reached the final stages over a package worth more than €65 million, with the Gunners giving the green light for the transfer to progress.
Now Romano has gone a significant step further, stating that Martinelli “leaves Arsenal and joins Al Hilal” and describing the transfer as done.
It brings a rapid conclusion to a saga that has gathered considerable momentum over the last fortnight.
End of an era for Martinelli at Arsenal
Whatever supporters think about the decision to sell Martinelli, his departure will close the book on one of Arsenal’s most successful pieces of recruitment in recent years.
The Brazilian arrived from Ituano in 2019 as a relatively unknown teenager and developed into an important member of Mikel Arteta’s team.
His pace, direct running and relentless work rate quickly made him popular with Arsenal supporters, while he played a significant role as the Gunners developed from a side battling to return to the Champions League into Premier League champions.
However, Martinelli’s position in Arteta’s squad has changed considerably.
The arrival of Christos Tzolis increased competition on the left side of Arsenal’s attack, while Martinelli’s absence from Arteta’s opening squads of the season only intensified speculation that a departure was approaching.
Arteta nevertheless made his feelings towards the Brazilian clear earlier this week, insisting that everybody at Arsenal recognised how much they loved Martinelli and that any eventual outcome would have to be one that suited everyone involved.
That outcome has now arrived.
For Arsenal, the reported package of more than €65 million also represents an enormous return on the modest fee paid to Ituano seven years ago and is set to make Martinelli the biggest player sale in the club’s history.
For Martinelli, it represents the beginning of a completely new chapter after spending virtually his entire senior European career in north London.
There will undoubtedly be mixed feelings among Arsenal supporters about seeing a player who grew up with this team leave the Emirates.
But with Romano now declaring the deal done and confirmed, it appears the time has finally come to say goodbye to Gabi.
Are Arsenal making the right decision by selling Gabriel Martinelli, or do you think the Gunners will come to regret letting the Brazilian leave?
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Sad to see Martineli leaves without a proper send off, hope it’s not too late .
But Arsenal could sign the now injured Kroupi , with the intention of playing him before November, still better than not signing a replacement or signing some unknown.
Stranger things happen
Win for all parties. You get remembered at AFC as the record holder for the biggest revenue from a player sale. Thank you Marti. Good luck in Saudi.
The positive is that we got a good price for Martinelli.
The negative is that its sad to see the lad go and apart from Tzolis we havent strengthened our forward line.
Hopefully we wont panic buy but as things stand I would prefer an injured kroupi to rashford every day of the week.
So because of Arteta’s personal grudge against Edu who angrily left Arsenal,he has decided to extend that aggression to his follow Brazilian whom he brought in? It’s the hieght of managerual incompetence if Arsenal management should allow Arteta to manipulate our last season highest goal scorer in the champions league out. We need Martinelli in Arsenal.
Using that logic we can expect Raya, Calafiori, Gabriel, Saliba, White, Timber, Rice, Merino, Odegaard and Havertz to be on their way because they were signed by Edu.
I am worried we will be weakened – Martinelli is not a bad player and was no less productive than Saka. They look weaker now. Eze is not a left winger and has hardly set the world on fire.
Amos Promise, what is this “personal grudge” you go on about ?
All the time I’ve been hoping that amidst all this talk of Martinelli leaving their would be a late change of mind. But alas not to be.
So I would like to thank you Mr Martinelli for you’re 7 years of pure commitment and loyalty to our club. Frustrating at times you could be, but there was plenty of good moments to.
All the best at you’re new club.
This was the right time to sell Martinelli, we’ve all known this for a while. We can just say it was not handled correctly because Martinelli deserved a farewell and acknowledgement from the fans. I can understand why it was handled that way. Martinelli was not willing to leave and that was not in the interest of the club. He has been adamant that he will fight for his place but he has not improved. We wish him all the best till we meet again. We will always remember him. I know he feels betrayed because his intention was to be a legend of the club but he will always be in our history regardless. I hope he goes on to do great things for himself.
We AT LAST have got good money for a player (nobody else in Europe wanted) who had 1 year left on his contract, not a guaranteed starter and if he had had a similar season, this season would be worth nothing, next. He had pace but lacked finesse and nous, when the game was shut up. Fine with space to run into but in the prem, that is rarely the case now. Good luck to him, he may flourish in the Saudi league and he won’t be short of money either. I am sure he has had a big payrise!!!!!
2 years left
We had an option for an extra year .
Don’t think it’s brilliant money when you oook at this seasons transfers but agree it was the right time for him to go .
And we only got that because it was Saudi money .
DK, the option to make it 2, doesn’t make it 2 years. Arsenal didn’t want to exercise it, so it was 1 year.
Its the same with add ons in a transfer, they do not count in a transfer, until they are added on. Arsenal didn’t want to give Martinelli another year.
Yea but the option was there ,so when you look at the fee ,for me that is taking into consideration .
It wasn’t triggered and Arsenal didn’t want to. He had one year left, so we got good money. You can rely on the Saudis to overpay😂
“ Martinelli’s Arsenal exit now confirmed”
😭
I loved gabi my best forever
Thanks Martinelli for your commitment. Wishing you all the best