Al-Hilal have reached a verbal agreement to sign Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli for a fee of more than €65m, including add-ons, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The proposed move represents one of the major deals of the current transfer window and underlines Al-Hilal’s ambition to assemble a forward line featuring players of the highest calibre.
Romano confirmed the agreement in a post on X, writing: “Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal, verbal agreement reached for more than €65m package including add-ons.”
The announcement ends several days of speculation about the Brazil international’s future. Martinelli has now been given permission to travel to Saudi Arabia within the next 24 hours, where he is expected to complete the remaining formalities before the transfer is officially announced.
He will sign a long-term contract with Al-Hilal, subject to the completion of those final procedures. The move would take him into a new chapter of his career with the Saudi club, although the formal confirmation is still to come.
Al-Hilal’s planned attacking overhaul
Martinelli’s expected arrival is part of a broader attacking plan at Al-Hilal during the current transfer window. The club have also agreed a deal to sign England striker Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, adding another high-profile forward to their squad.
Romano said the Watkins and Martinelli transfers were both included in a strategy prepared by Al-Hilal in advance. The Saudi club also have Netherlands international Crysencio Summerville in their attacking options.
Together, the three players would give manager Simone Inzaghi a varied collection of attacking qualities. The group would offer pace, the ability to beat defenders and a strong presence in the penalty area, strengthening the options available to the Italian coach.
Martinelli’s anticipated transfer further demonstrates Al-Hilal’s intent in the market. A deal worth more than €65m for a Brazilian star would rank among the club’s most significant moves of the window and would send another strong signal about their ambitions for the new season.
The player is now only a short time away from travelling to Saudi Arabia. Once the final steps have been completed and the announcement made, Martinelli will join an Al-Hilal attack being reshaped around major international names.
For Inzaghi, the arrival of the Arsenal winger would provide one of the most prominent attacking tools available to him for the coming campaign. Al-Hilal’s agreements for Watkins and Martinelli, alongside the presence of Summerville, point to a forward line designed to combine direct running, penetration and power in front of goal.
The transfer remains dependent on the completion of the final procedures, but the verbal agreement has brought an end to the uncertainty surrounding Martinelli’s next destination.
