Martinelli joins Al Hilal from Arsenal for record £60m

Gabriel Martinelli of Brazil has joined Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal from English team Arsenal for £60 million ($81 million), a new club record deal.

The 25-year-old has penned a four-year contract. Additionally, the London club will get a cut of any future transfer fee when Martinelli moves again.

This transfer beats the earlier record deal of Arsenal selling midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool for £35 million in 2017.

The Brazilian winger is leaving the north London side after seven years at the club where he scored 62 goals in 278 appearances. He had signed for Arsenal from Brazilian club Ituano in 2019.

Last season he made 53 appearances as Arsenal won the Premier League and reached the UEFA Champions League final. However, he did not make the squad for Arsenal's opening two league games this season.

Al Hilal announced that Martinelli would be training with the new club on Thursday and he may make his debut for the side against Al Shabab on Friday.

-AJM