Arsenal have confirmed the permanent transfer of Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli to Al-Hilal (a Saudi Pro League club currently joint-top of the Saudi top flight) for a reported £60 million ($81m), making the 25-year-old the most expensive player ever sold by the London club. Martinelli, who scored 62 goals in nearly 300 appearances for Arsenal and was part of their first league title-winning squad since 2004, had been left out of the team's opening matchday squads this season after manager Mikel Arteta indicated his playing time would be limited. The deal, which was completed after the European transfer window closed on Tuesday — a deadline that restricts continental clubs from buying but not selling — sees Martinelli join fellow new Al-Hilal signing Ollie Watkins, the England striker recently acquired from Aston Villa.