Martinelli Al Hilal Salary Could Transform His Earnings
The Martinelli Al Hilal salary being discussed in Saudi Arabia would represent a dramatic financial increase for the Arsenal winger. According to a report cited by Sports Illustrated, Gabriel Martinelli has been offered a package worth more than $16.4 million (£12 million) per year to leave Arsenal and join Al Hilal.
The proposal arrives at a crucial point in Martinelli’s Arsenal career. The Brazilian has fallen down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta and has not been selected for Arsenal’s competitive matchday squads at the beginning of the 2026-27 campaign.
That combination of reduced playing opportunities and a potentially enormous salary has changed the situation surrounding the 25-year-old winger.
Martinelli had previously shown little interest in leaving Arsenal for Galatasaray. However, the approach from Al Hilal appears to have created a much more attractive proposition, particularly from a financial perspective.
Martinelli Al Hilal Salary Compared With Arsenal
The most striking part of the reported offer is not simply the headline figure. It is how the proposed Martinelli Al Hilal salary compares with what Arsenal’s leading players reportedly take home after tax.
Sports Illustrated reports that Martinelli could receive more than $16.4 million annually from Al Hilal. Because Saudi Arabia does not impose the same level of personal income taxation faced by Premier League players in the United Kingdom, the net value of that package could be particularly significant.
For comparison, the publication estimates the reported take-home annual salaries of several Arsenal players at considerably lower levels.
Bukayo Saka is estimated at approximately $11.3 million, while Kai Havertz is listed at around $10.5 million. William Saliba is estimated at $9.4 million, with Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice both around $9 million.
Those figures make the potential Al Hilal package stand out.
On a gross-salary comparison, the difference may not tell the entire story. Tax treatment can dramatically alter what a player actually keeps. That is one reason a Saudi offer can become highly competitive even when its headline figure is not vastly greater than a European club’s salary.
Why the Saudi Offer Is So Attractive
For Martinelli, the financial argument is straightforward.
Sports Illustrated reports that his current Arsenal earnings, after accounting for tax, are believed to be around $6.8 million per year. A move to Al Hilal at the reported $16.4 million level would therefore represent a substantial increase in annual income.
The difference becomes even more significant over several seasons.
If Martinelli agreed to a four-year contract worth $16.4 million annually, the theoretical value of his salary alone would reach approximately $65.6 million before he turns 30.
That calculation does not include potential signing bonuses, performance incentives or other benefits that could form part of a Saudi Pro League contract.
It is therefore easy to understand why Al Hilal’s proposal could change Martinelli’s thinking about his future.
The Brazilian had previously preferred to remain in North London. However, a combination of financial security and uncertainty over his Arsenal role gives the Saudi option a different appeal.
Martinelli’s Arsenal Situation Has Changed
Money is only one part of the story.
Martinelli’s uncertain Arsenal future has developed alongside a noticeable reduction in his role within Arteta’s squad.
Sports Illustrated reported that the winger was left out of Arsenal’s matchday squads for the opening competitive fixtures of the season, including the Community Shield against Manchester City and the Premier League opener against Coventry City.
That is significant because Martinelli has been an important part of Arsenal’s squad since arriving from Brazilian club Ituano in 2019.
His position became increasingly uncertain as Arsenal reshaped their attacking options.
The club has also been linked with expensive attacking targets, including Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez and Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola. Sports Illustrated has reported that Arsenal is looking at ways to upgrade its attacking options, with Martinelli’s departure potentially helping create space and funds for another major signing.
As a result, Martinelli is not simply deciding whether to accept a larger salary.
He is also deciding whether his long-term ambitions can be fulfilled at Arsenal.
Martinelli Previously Rejected Galatasaray
The situation is particularly interesting because Martinelli had already been linked with another move away from Arsenal.
Galatasaray reportedly made an offer for the Brazilian winger, but Martinelli’s camp indicated that he had no interest in moving to the Turkish club. Sports Illustrated reported that the proposal was worth approximately $52 million (€45 million or £38.4 million), while Arsenal’s valuation was believed to be higher.
That response suggested Martinelli was not desperate to leave Arsenal.
Instead, he appeared to prefer staying at the Emirates if the right conditions could be found.
The emergence of Al Hilal changes that equation.
A move to Saudi Arabia could offer substantially greater financial rewards than remaining at Arsenal. At the same time, Al Hilal can offer a major football platform within the rapidly expanding Saudi Pro League.
That combination could be enough to persuade the player to reconsider his position.
Martinelli’s Arsenal Contract Adds Another Layer
Martinelli’s contractual situation is also important.
He signed his current Arsenal agreement in February 2023 after an impressive breakthrough season. According to Sports Illustrated, that deal was worth significantly more than his previous contract and effectively doubled his earnings after tax to an estimated $6.8 million annually.
At that stage, Martinelli was viewed as one of Arsenal’s most important young attacking players.
His 2022-23 campaign was particularly impressive. The Brazilian scored 15 Premier League goals, establishing himself as a dangerous left-sided attacker and helping Arsenal mount a serious title challenge.
His subsequent output, however, has not consistently reached that level.
Sports Illustrated previously noted that Martinelli recorded only five Premier League goal involvements during the 2025-26 season, including just one after the Champions League league phase.
That decline has contributed to the debate about whether Arsenal should continue building around him.
What Arsenal Could Gain From a Martinelli Sale
From Arsenal’s perspective, selling Martinelli could provide both financial and sporting flexibility.
The club would potentially receive a substantial transfer fee while removing a significant salary commitment from its wage structure.
More importantly, a departure could create room for Arsenal to pursue another elite attacking player.
That is relevant because the club has been connected with some extraordinarily expensive targets.
Sports Illustrated has reported Arsenal interest in players such as Álvarez and Barcola, although the valuations attached to those players are extremely high.
Martinelli’s departure would therefore not necessarily be viewed simply as Arsenal losing a talented player.
It could become part of a wider attacking rebuild.
However, replacing a player who has made 278 appearances for the club would still carry risks. Martinelli has experience in the Premier League and Champions League, and his pace and ability to attack space provide characteristics that are not always easy to replace.
The Financial Gap Is Difficult to Ignore
The reported Martinelli Al Hilal salary makes the decision even more complicated.
If Martinelli remains at Arsenal until the end of his current contract, Sports Illustrated estimates that he would earn around $13.6 million in take-home salary over the remaining period discussed in its report.
A four-year Al Hilal agreement at the reported rate could instead generate approximately $65.6 million before he reaches the age of 30.
That is an enormous difference.
For a footballer entering what should be the prime years of his career, a contract of that size can provide long-term financial security.
The decision is therefore not simply about maximizing weekly wages.
It is potentially about securing generational wealth while continuing to play at a major club.
Al Hilal Has Become a Major Destination
Al Hilal is also capable of offering Martinelli a competitive football environment.
The Saudi club has attracted some of the biggest names in world football and has positioned itself as one of the leading teams in the Saudi Pro League.
The club’s ability to offer substantial salaries has made Saudi Arabia an increasingly important factor in the global transfer market.
For Martinelli, a move would mean leaving the Premier League at a relatively young age.
That is the biggest sporting consideration.
The Premier League remains one of the world’s most competitive domestic leagues, and Arsenal remains a major European club with ambitions of competing for domestic and continental trophies.
A move to Al Hilal would therefore represent a significant change in the trajectory of his career.
Would Martinelli Really Leave Arsenal?
The financial incentives are obvious, but the transfer is not solely about money.
Martinelli has spent most of his senior European career at Arsenal. He arrived in England as a teenager and developed into a Brazil international while playing for the Gunners.
Leaving would mean abandoning a familiar environment at a moment when he could still have several peak years ahead of him.
There is also the possibility that his Arsenal situation could change.
Football squads can shift rapidly during a transfer window. An injury, tactical adjustment or departure by another attacker could reopen a path into the starting lineup.
Yet the signals from Arteta and Arsenal are increasingly difficult to ignore.
The fact that Martinelli has not been included in early competitive squads suggests that the club is prepared to move forward without relying on him as a regular first-team option.
Arteta’s Decision Could Define the Transfer
Mikel Arteta’s role is central to the situation.
Martinelli has previously been one of the manager’s trusted attacking options, but competition for places has become intense.
Arsenal’s recruitment strategy has also raised the overall quality and depth of the squad.
If Arteta believes another winger or forward can offer greater consistency, Martinelli may find his opportunities increasingly limited.
That could make a move beneficial for all parties.
Martinelli would receive a fresh start and a potentially enormous salary. Arsenal would generate a transfer fee and potentially redirect wages toward another player. Al Hilal would acquire a proven Premier League and Brazil international attacker.
The difficult part is ensuring that Arsenal does not regret selling a player who could rediscover his best form elsewhere.
The Bigger Saudi Pro League Picture
Martinelli’s proposed move also reflects the changing economics of football.
Saudi clubs have increasingly demonstrated their willingness to compete with European teams for established international players.
The attraction is not limited to players approaching retirement.
Younger players can also be targeted when clubs believe they can combine sporting quality with commercial value.
Martinelli fits that profile.
At 25, he is young enough to remain at the highest level for many years. His experience in the Premier League, Champions League and international football makes him a more established proposition than an emerging prospect.
If Al Hilal completes the deal, it would be another indication that Saudi clubs can influence the careers of players who remain in the traditional European football prime.
Martinelli Al Hilal Salary Could Be the Deciding Factor
Ultimately, the reported Martinelli Al Hilal salary could prove decisive.
A package worth more than $16.4 million per year would put the Brazilian into an entirely different financial category. Sports Illustrated’s comparison suggests that, after tax, the figure could exceed the take-home earnings of every Arsenal player listed in its comparison.
That does not automatically mean Martinelli will leave.
Players consider trophies, playing time, family, location, international ambitions and career development alongside money.
But the financial difference is too large to ignore.
If Arsenal continues to signal that Martinelli is no longer central to its plans, the argument for staying becomes weaker.
If Al Hilal can also offer a clear sporting role, the Brazilian could have compelling reasons to accept the move.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus will be on whether Arsenal and Al Hilal can reach an agreement and, more importantly, whether Martinelli accepts the proposed move.
The latest reporting indicates that Al Hilal has entered negotiations and that the financial proposal has given Martinelli reason to consider leaving Arsenal.
The transfer window is also approaching its decisive stage, increasing the pressure on all parties.
Arsenal must decide whether to keep Martinelli as squad depth, sell him for a substantial fee or use his departure to finance another attacking signing.
Martinelli must determine whether fighting for his Arsenal career is preferable to accepting one of the most lucrative contracts of his career.
Al Hilal, meanwhile, must convince both the player and Arsenal that its proposal is strong enough to complete the deal.
For now, the reported salary offer has transformed the conversation.
What initially looked like a difficult Arsenal exit has become a potentially life-changing opportunity for Martinelli.
If the Brazilian ultimately moves to Saudi Arabia, his decision will be remembered not only as a major Arsenal transfer but also as another example of how Saudi football is changing the financial landscape of the global game.
