Arsenal have signed Brazilian defender Gabriel from Lille for £27m on a long-term contract.
Manchester United, Everton and Serie A club Napoli had all held an interest in centre-back Gabriel, who made 34 appearances in all competitions last season as Lille finished fourth in Ligue 1.
The 22-year-old bolsters Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta’s options in defence that will be further boosted by William Saliba, who spent last season on loan at St Etienne following his £27m signing from the French club last summer.
Gabriel, who played in all six of Lille’s Champions League group stage matches last season, is Arsenal’s second major summer signing following compatriot Willian’s move from Chelsea on a free transfer.
Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares made their loan moves permanent from Flamengo and Southampton respectively earlier this summer.
Gabriel is the second player to join Arsenal from Lille in the past 12 months, following Ivory Coast international Nicolas Pepe’s move to the Emirates for a club-record £72m last summer.
“We welcome Gabriel to Arsenal,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told the club’s website. “He has many qualities which will make us stronger as a defensive unit and as a team.
“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.”
Technical director Edu added: “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.”
Lille president Gerard Lopez speaking about Gabriel’s move before it was formally agreed, said the Brazilian is “at the start of something big” in his career.
“He is a great kid and that is one of the most important things,” Lopez said. “He didn’t have an easy start with us given the fact that the coach at the time didn’t trust him because of his age.
“He is a real fighter and has immense physical presence but knows how to use it smartly. He is still raw and I know the Brazil national team are looking at him very seriously for the A-team.
“I think he is at the start of something big, and he does everything to succeed.”
With Sky Sports reports
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