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Arsenal are in advanced talks with Al-Hilal over a deal worth at least £50m for Gabriel Martinelli.
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Martinelli has 12 months left on his Arsenal contract and is understood to be outside Mikel Arteta’s plans.
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The Brazil international must now decide whether he wants to move to the Saudi Pro League after previously turning down Galatasaray.
August 25, (THEWILL) — Arsenal are in advanced talks with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal over the sale of Gabriel Martinelli in a deal that could be worth at least £50m.
Negotiations have moved quickly over the past 24 hours, with the two clubs now close to reaching an agreement for the Brazil international.
The final decision, however, will belong to Martinelli.
The 25-year-old has one year remaining on his Arsenal contract, but manager Mikel Arteta has made it clear that the forward is no longer part of his plans.
That became particularly noticeable when Martinelli was left out of Arsenal’s squad for their Premier League opener against Coventry on Friday.
The Gunners won that match 3-0, but the Brazilian watched from the sidelines.
His omission has already sparked debate around the club.
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright questioned the way Martinelli has been treated and said the situation made him uncomfortable.
Wright acknowledged that Arsenal may want the player to leave but argued that the club should also consider how Martinelli wants the move to happen.
Arsenal, though, appear to have reached a point where a departure could be the best outcome for all sides.
Al-Hilal are prepared to offer Martinelli a significant financial package, with the Saudi club’s proposed wages understood to be considerably higher than the reported £180,000 a week he currently earns at Arsenal.
That leaves the player with an important decision.
Martinelli has already rejected a move to Galatasaray, so the possibility of joining Al-Hilal will depend on whether he is willing to continue his career in Saudi Arabia.
His situation is a notable change from where he stood only a few months ago.
Martinelli joined Arsenal from Brazilian club Ituano in 2019 and gradually established himself as an important part of the team.
Last season, he made 53 appearances in all competitions and scored 11 goals as Arsenal won the Premier League title.
Yet Arteta’s plans have now changed, and Martinelli appears to have fallen down the pecking order.
For Arsenal, selling him for around £50m would provide a significant return for a player with only 12 months remaining on his contract.
It would also remove the uncertainty surrounding his future before the transfer window closes.
For Martinelli, the situation is less straightforward.
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He has spent six years at Arsenal, developed into a Brazil international and was part of a side that lifted the Premier League title last season.
Leaving now would mean walking away from a club where he has built a considerable part of his career.
Al-Hilal are hoping to convince him that a new challenge in the Saudi Pro League is the right next step.
Their interest in Martinelli also comes alongside a pursuit of Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
The England forward was left out of Villa’s opening-day defeat by Brighton, while manager Unai Emery has refused to guarantee that Watkins will remain at the club.
For now, however, Martinelli’s future is the more immediate story at Arsenal.
The clubs are getting closer to an agreement, but the final piece of the puzzle is still in the player’s hands.
After years in north London and a Premier League title to his name, Martinelli now has to decide whether to stay and fight for his place under Arteta or accept a lucrative new chapter with Al-Hilal.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
