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€30m Gabriel capture to make Arsenal "stronger defensive unit"

Arsenal have completed the €30million signing of Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille.  The 22-year ol...



€30m Gabriel capture to make A...
Soccer

€30m Gabriel capture to make Arsenal "stronger defensive unit"

Arsenal have completed the €30million signing of Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille. 

The 22-year old defender has signed a long-term contract at the Emirates.

Gabriel is a left-sided centre-back who can also play on the left side of a defensive trio.

He's Arsenal's second defensive signing of the summer from Ligue 1. William Saliba will make his long-awaited arrival from St. Etienne after putting pen-to-paper last summer.

Gabriel made 52 appearances for Lille following his arrival from Avai in his native Brazil back in 2016.

"He has many qualities which will make us stronger as a defensive unit and as a team," said Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta.

"He has proved with Lille that he is a defender with many outstanding attributes and we are looking forward to watching him grow as an Arsenal player."

Arsenal technical director Edu said, "We are delighted to have signed Gabriel. He is a player we have been studying for a while and he was in demand from many clubs, so we are proud to have agreed and completed this transfer with Lille and the player.

"Gabriel is a player of high quality and Mikel and his coaches are looking forward to integrating him into the club."

He takes up the no.6 jersey left vacant since the departure of Laurent Koscielny.

Staying with Arsenal, and Len Friar has stepped down as the club's executive director to take over a new role as life president.

The 86 year old has worked for the club for 70 years, having started out in the box office in 1950 before becoming secretary and then managing director.

Friar was in charge of Arsenal's move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium.

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Arsenal Edu Gabriel Gabriel Magalhaes Lille Mikel Arteta William Saliba