{
  "id": 5380015,
  "title": "Martinelli joins Al-Hilal from Arsenal for reported £60 million",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/martinelli-joins-al-hilal-from-arsenal-for-reported-60-million",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-03T18:01:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/martinelli-joins-al-hilal-arsenal-180125352.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli has transferred to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, according to a statement from the Premier League champions. The Brazilian forward's £60 million deal (the approximate equivalent of $81 million) makes him the most expensive player to leave the London club since Alex Oxlade Chamberlain's £35 million move to Liverpool in 2017. Martinelli has signed a four-year contract with Al-Hilal, who are currently joint-top of the Saudi Pro League alongside Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr.\n\nDuring a video unveiling his new club's social media channels, Martinelli expressed his excitement about joining Al-Hilal, stating, \"Proud to be blue, proud to be Al-Hilal.\" He will be playing alongside Ollie Watkins at the Saudi side, following Watkins' departure from Aston Villa. Martinelli's presence at Al-Hilal joins fellow left-sided forward Leandro Trossard, who recently transferred to Besiktas.\n\nThe exits of Martinelli and Trossard have sparked concerns about Arsenal's future personnel in the left-side of their attack. Arsenal will now need to address this potential gap in their squad. Martinelli made 53 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring 11 goals while contributing to Arsenal's first title win since 2004. He was also involved in their 2020 FA Cup and 2023 Community Shield successes. However, Martinelli was left out of Arsenal's first two matchday squads of the current season, and manager Mikel Arteta made it clear that Martinelli would struggle for game time if he remained at the club. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright criticized the club's decision, suggesting that there should have been a more dignified way to part ways with the player.",
  "summary": "Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has joined Saudi side Al-Hilal, the Premier League champions announced Thursday.\"Gabriel Martinelli has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal on a permanent transfer,\" said a statement on Arsenal's website.",
  "key_points": [
    "Arsenal transfers Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal for £60 million.",
    "Martinelli signs four-year contract with Saudi club, joint-top of Saudi Pro League.",
    "Martinelli excited to join Al-Hilal, will play alongside Ollie Watkins."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "Arsenal's Martinelli joins Al-Hilal in £60m move",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/arsenals-martinelli-joins-al-hilal-in-60m-move",
        "published": "2026-09-03T16:30:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "🚨 BREAKING: Al-Hilal complete move for Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/breaking-al-hilal-complete-move-for-arsenals-gabriel-martinelli",
        "published": "2026-09-03T16:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Brazilian Martinelli joins Saudi Al-Hilal from Arsenal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/brazilian-martinelli-joins-saudi-al-hilal-from-arsenal",
        "published": "2026-09-03T17:48:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Arsenal’s Martinelli joins Al-Hilal in £60m move",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/arsenals-martinelli-joins-al-hilal-in-60m-move-5377818",
        "published": "2026-09-03T17:53:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}