Biography
Who is Gabriel Magalhães?
Early life and beginnings
Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães was born in the Pirituba District of São Paulo, Brazil. He started his footballing path at the age of 13 with Avaí. This initial move proved difficult, as he returned home to São Paulo after just one week because he felt homesick. After two weeks, he decided to return to the club to pursue his professional goals.
He eventually secured his first professional contract at the age of 16. His time with Avaí included a significant milestone in 2017 when he helped the team achieve promotion to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. This period laid the foundation for his move to European football.
Move to Europe and Lille career
On 31 January 2017, Gabriel joined the French club Lille. While adjusting to a new country, he taught himself the French language to better communicate during interviews. He spent time playing for Lille II before being sent on loan to Troyes and later to the Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb. He made only one league appearance for each of these senior teams during his loan spells.
Gabriel returned to Lille in 2018 and began playing more regularly for the first team. He scored his first goal for the club on 14 April 2019 during a match against Paris Saint-Germain. By the following season, he was a regular starter and played in every group stage match for Lille in the Champions League. He also signed a contract extension with the French side in January 2020.
Success at Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal announced the signing of Gabriel Magalhães on 1 September 2020 for a fee of approximately £27m. He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the season against Fulham, where he scored a goal. His strong start earned him the Arsenal player of the month award for September 2020. He repeated this achievement in October and later won the award again in December 2020.
During his time in London, he has become a vital part of the defense. He reached his 100th Premier League appearance in September 2023 and his 150th Arsenal appearance in February 2024. In the 2025–26 season, he helped the club secure the Premier League title. He also participated in the UEFA Champions League final in 2026, where he was named to the competition's Team of the Season despite the team's loss.
International career and style
Gabriel has represented Brazil at several levels, including the under-20 team at the 2017 South American U-20 Championship. He made his senior international debut in September 2023 during a World Cup qualification match against Bolivia. He was later selected as part of the Brazilian squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
On the pitch, he is a fast defender despite standing 190cm tall. He is known for his strength, tackling, and ability to win aerial duels. He often plays as a centre-back and has formed a well-known defensive partnership with teammate William Saliba at the club level.
Birthday and age
Gabriel Magalhães was born on December 19, 1997, which makes Gabriel 28 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Gabriel shares the date with 36 other famous people.
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