Al-Hilal in Advanced Talks to Sign Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli for at Least £50m

Arsenal are in advanced talks with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal over the sale of winger Gabriel Martinelli, with the Premier League club seeking a fee of at least £50 million for the 25-year-old Brazilian international, according to reports from BBC Sport and The Athletic published on August 23–24, 2026. Martinelli has been told by manager Mikel Arteta that he is no longer central to the club’s plans, and the player is understood to be open to making the move to the Saudi Pro League.

The development marks a significant shift in Martinelli’s Arsenal career. Having been one of the club’s most exciting forwards for several seasons, the Brazilian — who joined Arsenal from Brazilian club Ituano in 2019 as a teenager — now faces a potential exit from north London after Arteta restructured his attacking options. BBC Sport reported on August 23 that Arsenal gave Martinelli permission to leave this summer, with Al-Hilal emerging as the front-runners to secure his signature.

What the Sources Say: Ornstein, Mokbel, and Jacobs Report Separately

Al-Hilal in advanced talks to sign Gabriel Martinelli is now confirmed by three independent, credible transfer reporters. David Ornstein of The Athletic was first to break the story on August 23, 2026, reporting that Al-Hilal “are pursuing a deal to sign Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli” and that negotiations involve both the club and the player’s camp. Ornstein confirmed Arsenal are “seeking a fee in the region of £60 million” for the winger, though no agreement has been reached at this stage.

Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport followed with a report on August 23 confirming that “Arsenal have held talks with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal over the sale of winger Gabriel Martinelli.” Mokbel’s report described the discussions as advanced, with Arsenal seeking at least £50m. Separately, transfer specialist Ben Jacobs reported on August 24 that Al-Hilal have stepped up negotiations and their latest offer stands at €55 million plus €4 million in potential add-ons — a package that could total approximately £51 million at current exchange rates. Talks are continuing over the structure of any agreement, and no deal has been officially confirmed.

It is understood that Al-Hilal are prepared to bid higher than the €45 million offer submitted earlier this summer by Turkish giants Galatasaray, which Martinelli rejected. The Saudi club’s willingness to increase their valuation reflects their confidence that a deal can be reached before the transfer window closes.

Arteta Has Made His Position Clear: Martinelli Is Free to Leave

The pivotal factor in this story is Arteta’s decision. According to BBC Sport, the Arsenal manager has made it clear to Martinelli that he is not in his plans for the 2026–27 campaign. This frank communication reportedly opened the door for the winger to consider his options — and while he turned down Galatasaray’s approach in early August 2026, the scale and ambition of Al-Hilal’s offer appears more persuasive.

Arteta’s squad decisions this summer have been driven by a broader tactical reorganization at the Emirates. Arsenal’s acquisition of Pedro Neto from Chelsea earlier in the summer transfer window gave Arteta additional wide attacking options, and the arrival of further reinforcements appears to have pushed Martinelli down the pecking order on the left flank. The manager has reportedly communicated directly and honestly with the player — a dynamic that, while potentially painful for Martinelli, at least gives him clarity over his future.

Gabriel Martinelli: Career Profile and Arsenal Contribution

Gabriel Theodoro Martinelli Silva was born on June 18, 2001, in Guarulhos, São Paulo, Brazil. He joined Arsenal as an 18-year-old from Brazilian fourth-tier side Ituano in July 2019, initially regarded as a long-term development project. What followed exceeded virtually every expectation.

Martinelli established himself rapidly as one of the Premier League’s most dynamic attacking threats. His pace, pressing intensity, and direct running made him a fan favourite at the Emirates and earned him his first senior Brazil call-up. He became a key figure in Arsenal’s title challenges of recent seasons, contributing goals and assists from the left wing. During Arsenal’s 2022–23 Premier League campaign — in which the Gunners pushed Manchester City all the way to the final day — Martinelli was central to their attacking identity under Arteta.

Now 25, he has made over 200 appearances for Arsenal across all competitions since joining. His contributions to some of Arsenal’s biggest wins in recent memory have cemented his place in the club’s recent history, even as his role in Arteta’s current plans has diminished.

Note: Career statistics sourced from publicly available records. Season totals are as reported across major statistical databases. 2025–26 data unavailable at time of publication.

The Saudi Pro League’s Transfer Ambitions: Al-Hilal’s Pursuit in Context

Al-Hilal’s pursuit of Martinelli is part of a sustained effort by Saudi Pro League clubs to attract elite European talent. The Riyadh-based club — winners of multiple Saudi league titles and regular participants in the AFC Champions League — have already assembled a squad featuring several international stars, and the addition of a 25-year-old Brazilian international of Martinelli’s calibre would represent another significant statement of intent.

The Saudi Pro League’s summer 2026 transfer window has seen continued investment from clubs backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. Al-Hilal in particular have targeted younger European-based talent this summer, a shift from the wave of veteran signings that characterised the league’s initial growth phase. Signing Martinelli at 25 — still in his prime years — fits that strategic evolution.

The broader context also includes Ollie Watkins‘ reported desire to move to Al-Hilal from Aston Villa, confirming that the Saudi club has significant ambitions to build one of the most competitive attacking rosters in world football outside Europe’s top five leagues. Al-Hilal also reportedly approached Galatasaray previously about Martinelli — and were aware of the Turkish club’s €45 million bid, which Martinelli turned down — suggesting they moved strategically, waiting for the right moment to enter at a higher valuation.

Martinelli’s Brazil International Career and Global Standing

Moving to the Saudi Pro League would not necessarily end Martinelli’s international ambitions with Brazil. The Seleção has historically selected players from outside Europe’s traditional top leagues when form and ability warrant it, and at 25, Martinelli remains well within his international prime. Whether a move to Saudi Arabia would affect his standing with the Brazil national team set-up, managed by head coach Dorival Júnior, remains to be seen.

Martinelli has been capped by the senior Brazil squad and has represented the Seleção at various age-group levels. His versatility — capable of playing on either wing or centrally — has made him an asset for both club and country. However, his form and playing time at club level have been closely linked to his international opportunities, and regular minutes in the Saudi Pro League could keep him in Brazil’s squad calculations, particularly with a new international cycle now underway.

How the Deal Could Work: Transfer Fee, Timeline, and Window Deadline

According to Ben Jacobs’ reporting on August 24, Al-Hilal’s most recent proposal to Arsenal involves a fee of €55 million (approximately £46–47 million at current rates) plus up to €4 million in conditional add-ons, taking the total potential value to approximately €59 million — close to, but not yet matching, Arsenal’s reported £60 million valuation cited by David Ornstein. The gap between the two sides’ positions is therefore relatively narrow, and Ornstein noted that “no agreement has been reached” but that talks are continuing.

The Saudi Pro League’s transfer window closes later than the Premier League’s summer deadline. For Arsenal, the key calculation is whether Al-Hilal’s offer meets their valuation or whether they are willing to accept a slightly lower fee with add-ons built in — a common mechanism for bridging gaps in transfer negotiations. The player’s personal terms with Al-Hilal are understood to be discussed in parallel with club-to-club negotiations, following the standard sequence for a transfer of this nature.

Martinelli’s contract situation at Arsenal has not been officially disclosed at time of publication, but his openness to departure — combined with Arteta’s explicit indication that he has no future at the club — suggests the dynamics are aligned for a deal to progress. The main outstanding question is whether the fee gap between the two clubs can be bridged.

Arsenal’s Transfer Business in Context: Martinelli Exit Funds Further Recruitment

For Arsenal, a sale of Martinelli at £50 million or above would represent a significant return on a player signed for a modest fee as a teenager in 2019. The funds generated would potentially contribute to further reinforcements for Arteta’s squad as the north London club continues its push to challenge Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal’s summer transfer activity has already included the arrival of Pedro Neto, and the club has been closely linked with a potential move for Victor Osimhen, the Nigeria striker, whose situation at Galatasaray has attracted significant interest. The Martinelli sale, if it goes ahead, would help Arsenal maintain financial flexibility in the final days of the summer window.

The timing is also notable: with the Premier League season now underway — Arsenal opened their campaign on the weekend of August 23–24 — the club will need to move quickly to conclude any outgoing business. Arteta will be eager to give the squad as much stability as possible heading into a competitive autumn fixture schedule, meaning prolonged uncertainty over Martinelli’s future would not be in anyone’s interest.

Galatasaray Rejected, Al-Hilal Advances: The Timeline of Martinelli’s Potential Exit

The sequence of events in Martinelli’s transfer saga this summer is important context:

• Early August 2026: Galatasaray submit a bid understood to be in the region of €45 million for Martinelli. The Brazilian rejects the move, opting not to join the Turkish club.
• Mid-August 2026: Reports emerge that Al-Hilal have registered interest in Martinelli and are prepared to submit a more competitive offer than Galatasaray.
• August 23, 2026: David Ornstein (The Athletic) and Sami Mokbel (BBC Sport) both report that Arsenal and Al-Hilal are in talks, with Arsenal holding out for a fee in the region of £60 million.
• August 24, 2026: Ben Jacobs reports that Al-Hilal have advanced their negotiations, with an offer of €55m + €4m in add-ons now on the table. Talks described as ongoing, with no deal confirmed.
• Status as of August 25, 2026: Negotiations are continuing. No official announcement has been made by Arsenal, Al-Hilal, or Martinelli’s representatives. This remains an unconfirmed transfer in progress.

What Happens Next: Deal Closing or Martinelli Stays at Arsenal?

There are two realistic outcomes from this point. The first is that Arsenal and Al-Hilal bridge their remaining fee gap and reach a formal agreement, enabling Martinelli to undergo a medical and complete the formalities of the transfer. Given that both the club and player are open to the move, and the financial difference between the two sides’ positions appears modest — a matter of a few million euros rather than a fundamental impasse — this scenario is plausible.

The second is that Al-Hilal decline to match Arsenal’s valuation and the deal collapses. In that scenario, Martinelli would return to the Arsenal squad in an awkward position — a player his manager has publicly moved on from, still under contract. That outcome would benefit no one and would likely produce a further push to find a buyer before the Premier League window closes on September 1.

What is clear from the reporting of The Athletic’s David Ornstein, BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel, and Ben Jacobs is that this transfer has genuine momentum. Martinelli’s camp is engaged, Arsenal are willing sellers, and Al-Hilal have increased their offer significantly since the window opened. The window of opportunity for all parties to conclude a deal is narrowing rapidly, and the next 48–72 hours could prove decisive in determining whether one of the Premier League’s most recognisable forwards completes a move to Saudi Arabia.

For followers of Arsenal’s trajectory and the broader story of European football’s relationship with the Saudi Pro League, this is a transfer that carries implications well beyond one player. Martinelli’s exit — if confirmed — would mark another step in a growing pattern: Saudi clubs successfully luring players who, just a few years ago, would never have considered leaving Europe’s elite leagues in their mid-twenties. For Martinelli himself, the defining question is whether the financial rewards and a guaranteed central role at Al-Hilal outweigh the competitive pull of the Champions League and the Premier League’s global stage.

Sources

• Arsenal transfer news: Al-Hilal open talks to sign Gabriel Martinelli — bbc.com
• Al Hilal pursuing deal for Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli – The Athletic — nytimes.com
• Gabriel Martinelli Set for Saudi Switch As Pressure Mounts for … — sports.yahoo.com
• Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal? Arsenal ready to sell for £50m — caughtoffside.com
• Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli nears record-breaking $68 … — sports.yahoo.com

Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons