Official and historic! Arsenal smash their transfer record with Saudi sale

It is now official: Gabriel Martinelli is an Al Hilal player, and Arsenal have never banked more for a single footballer.

Details: Fabrizio Romano confirms the Brazilian joins Al Hilal on a €70 million package deal from Arsenal, a record sale for the Gunners with a sell-on clause also secured in the agreement. The fee smashes the previous club record, the £35 million Liverpool paid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in 2017.

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The 25 year old leaves north London after seven years that started with a £6 million move from Ituano and ended with the biggest outgoing fee in Arsenal's history. In between he made 278 appearances and scored 62 goals, won the FA Cup in 2020 and, last season, finally lifted the Premier League title. His final campaign was quieter, 1 goal and 4 assists in the league as he slipped out of Mikel Arteta's plans, and with his contract entering its final year, sporting director Andrea Berta squeezed maximum value from the Saudis. For Simone Inzaghi's Al Hilal, who moved fast after being priced out of Pedro Neto, it is a statement signing for the Saudi Pro League title race, with the winger reportedly set to earn over €20 million a year.

It's worth noting an extraordinary Arsenal quirk: in his Gunners career, Martinelli never once finished on the losing side in a match where he scored.

Reminder: Martinelli to leave Arsenal! Brazilian forward to join new club for €65 million.