Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has completed a permanent transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal for a fee of £60m. The agreement also features a sell-on percentage and concludes the Brazilian international's seven-year tenure in north London.

At 25 years old, Martinelli has agreed to terms on a long-term contract with his new club. Al-Hilal currently shares the summit of the league standings alongside Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr.

Martinelli originally arrived at Emirates Stadium in 2019 from Brazilian outfit Ituano. He entered the final year of his contract with Arsenal, but manager Mikel Arteta informed him that he did not feature in the tactical plans for the current campaign.

In a promotional video released across the club's social media platforms, the forward expressed excitement about his new chapter. He stated that he was proud to wear the blue colors of Al-Hilal.

The financial package presented by the Saudi outfit represents a substantial increase compared to his previous weekly salary at Arsenal, which was reported at £180,000. The player will now link up with several other notable European acquisitions.

Al-Hilal strengthened its attacking options by securing England striker Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa for £51m. The squad also welcomed Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville from West Ham following the latter club's relegation from the English top flight. The team is under the direction of manager Simone Inzaghi.

During the previous season, Martinelli featured in 53 matches across all competitions and found the back of the net 11 times. Those contributions helped the Gunners secure their first league championship since 2004.

Despite that success, the forward was omitted from the matchday squads for Arsenal's opening two fixtures of the current season. Arteta signaled that competitive minutes would be difficult to secure should the player choose to stay.

The decision to sideline the winger drew public scrutiny, including comments from former Arsenal striker Ian Wright. Speaking to broadcasters, Wright questioned the manner in which the situation was handled and argued that player departures should be managed respectfully.

The transfer window activity highlights the ongoing financial influence of the Saudi Pro League in attracting established talent from European leagues. Martinelli now prepares to begin a new phase of his career in the Middle East.

Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.