Arsenal are reportedly in negotiations with star defender Gabriel Magalhães over a new long-term contract.
The 26-year-old is currently under contract at the Emirates Stadium until 2027, but the Gunners have initiated talks to extend his stay with improved terms. Gabriel enjoyed a stellar season in the Premier League last year, forming a formidable centre-back partnership with Frenchman William Saliba. The duo were crucial to Arsenal‘s strong performance, finishing 2nd in the Premier League and missing out on the title by just two points.
Gabriel reportedly earns £100,000 per week with the Gunners. Having established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the world, Arsenal are likely to double his salary to elevate him as one of the top earners at the club, and rightly so. The negotiations are not expected to take long, with the Brazilian keen on staying in North London.
The defender is an academy graduate of Brazilian club Avaí, where he made his senior debut. Gabriel moved to Lille in 2017, where he was loaned out to Troyes and Dinamo Zagreb before establishing himself in the first team. His successful stint in France prompted Arsenal to sign him for a reported fee of £27 million in 2020.
Gabriel has emerged as one of Arsenal’s integral players over the past few seasons. Mikel Arteta trusts him tremendously, with only Bukayo Saka playing more minutes than the Brazilian under him. In his four years at the club, the defender has made 132 league appearances, scoring 14 goals.
He was linked with a move away last season after initially finding himself out of the starting XI. However, Arteta made it clear how much he valued the Brazilian and convinced him to stay. Gabriel went on to start 34 league games last season.
The Brazilian’s importance to the team is evident, and he deserves to be one of the top earners at the club. Upon signing a new contract, Gabriel will be looking to win his first league title with the Gunners this season.
