Brazilian · Betim, Brazil · Born 19 December 1997Arsenal's commanding centre-back — the defensive foundation of his Premier League title challenges.
Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães was born in São Paulo, Brazil in 1997. Lille developed him before Arsenal paid £27 million in 2020. His five Arsenal seasons have made him a cornerstone of Mikel Arteta's defensive structure alongside Ben White and William Saliba. His combination of aerial dominance, physical presence and surprising composure on the ball has made him one of the Premier League's most consistent defenders. He scored important goals — including Premier League moments of significance in Arsenal's title challenges. He represented Brazil under multiple managers. He and William Saliba formed one of the Premier League's most celebrated centre-back partnerships of recent seasons — described by Arteta as the finest in the league during Arsenal's 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. His leadership qualities and the ferocity of his competitive edge on the pitch made him a popular figure among Arsenal supporters.
Being Arsenal's defensive leader and penalty box threat
How They Played
Commanding centre-back with excellent aerial ability and ball-playing skills
Lasting Impact
Gabriel has established himself as one of the Premier League's most reliable centre-backs and represents the modern defender who can contribute both defensively and in possession.
Career Honours
- FA Cup (2020 squad)
- Premier League runner-up 2x
- FA Cup 2020
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avaí | 2015–2017 | — | 44 | 4 | #6 |
| Arsenal | 2020–2024 | £27m | 150 | 9 | — |
| Lille | 2017–2020 | — | 95 | 6 | — |
 Brazil | — | — | 20 | 3 | — |
Brazilian Athletes