Arsenal secure Gabriel signing from Lille for reported €30M fee

Arsenal made their second significant Brazilian recruitment of the summer, signing Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille for a reported €30-million transfer fee.

Gabriel, 22, penned a five-year deal with the club and will join the first team for shortened preseason training ahead of Arsenal's first match of the 2020-21 campaign at Fulham on Sept. 12.

The Brazilian center-back moves to north London and will sport the No. 6 shirt after reportedly drawing interest from Manchester United, Manchester City, Everton, and Napoli.

Amid speculation of an impending move to Arsenal, Gabriel was not included in Christophe Galtier's Lille side for its Ligue 1 season-opening draw against Rennes.

Gabriel's move marks the second time in two years that Arsenal and Lille have done business after the Premier League outfit smashed its club transfer record to lure Nicolas Pepe to the Emirates Stadium for a reported €80-million fee last summer.

Gabriel's countryman Willian joined the Gunners on Aug. 14, signing a three-year contract following a free transfer from rivals Chelsea.

Joining Gabriel in central defense is William Saliba, who signed with Arsenal last summer before returning to Saint-Etienne on loan.

With the additions of Gabriel and Saliba, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta faces an excess of options at center-back that will likely see the Gunners display several defenders in the shop window.