The addition of Gabriel Martinelli has lifted Al Hilal’s total squad market value beyond the 1 billion Saudi riyals threshold, Transfermarkt assessments show in the days following the transfer’s completion. ESPN reported that the deal was worth €70 million in guaranteed money with a sell-on clause retained by Arsenal, marking a club-record sale for the Premier League side that eclipsed their previous high from 2017. The 25-year-old Brazilian arrived in Riyadh to undergo medical examinations before signing a contract through 2030, according to multiple reports from The Athletic and CBS Sports. Al Hilal sit atop the Saudi Pro League standings with a perfect record in their opening matches this season.
Transfermarkt data placed the club’s overall squad valuation at €239.88 million prior to final updates from the latest incoming transfers, a figure that equates to roughly 900 million riyals but has since climbed with the inclusion of Martinelli’s assessed worth. The winger joins after recording 62 goals and 36 assists across 278 appearances for Arsenal since his arrival from Ituano in 2019, a span that included a Premier League title and a Champions League final appearance last term. CBS Sports noted that the fee ranks as the third-highest ever paid by a Saudi club, trailing only select previous blockbuster moves in the league’s recent spending surge.
Al Hilal have pursued an aggressive recruitment drive in the current window that extends beyond the Martinelli acquisition, according to details compiled by Transfermarkt. The club secured Crysencio Summerville from West Ham United for €64.5 million and Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa for €58.4 million, transactions that have reshaped the attacking options available to coach Simone Inzaghi. These additions follow the departure of Malcom, whose exit created salary space that facilitated the latest deals, ESPN sources indicated in late August coverage of the negotiations.
Saudi football commentator Khalid Al-Shenaif stated on a local program that the combined value of contracts for the three attacking reinforcements approached 1 billion riyals, underscoring the financial resources at the club’s disposal after a majority stake sale to Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. The moves align with broader investment in the Saudi Pro League, where Al Hilal have maintained dominance while integrating high-profile European talent to sustain their competitive edge. Public filings from the club’s ownership transition earlier this year placed an enterprise value on the organization that reflected both on-field performance and commercial growth potential.
Martinelli is expected to wear the number 11 shirt and could feature as soon as this weekend against Al Ahli, AS.com reported in its coverage of the official announcement. The player’s representatives had turned down an earlier proposal from Galatasaray, paving the way for the Saudi destination that offered both sporting prominence and substantial personal terms estimated at over €20 million annually by CBS Sports. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had acknowledged the difficult conversations around the player’s future during summer news conferences, framing the outcome as one reached with mutual understanding.
The valuation increase positions Al Hilal ahead of rivals such as Al Ahli in squad market worth rankings tracked across regional platforms, a shift that coincides with their strong start to league play. Further context from Transfermarkt shows the club’s net spend this window exceeding €185 million after accounting for outgoing transfers, highlighting sustained commitment to squad reinforcement. Industry observers anticipate the integration of these new signings will bolster depth as the team balances domestic duties with continental competitions in the months ahead.
