Gunners secure centre-back…
Arsenal have finally completed the signing of defender Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal after the Brazilian passed his medical and was granted a work permit. A fee of £13.1m has been mooted.
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There were some concerns that the 24-year-old would not be able to make the move because he has not played 75% of his country’s international matches over the past two years – in fact he is yet to earn a single cap for Brazil.
However, the Gunners argued the case that he was a player of the highest calibre and would improve the Premier League, which is the same argument they have used to sign Eduardo da Silva and Ryo Miyaichi in the past.
Paulista becomes Arsene Wenger’s second new addition of the January transfer window having also secured 17-year-old defensive midfielder Krystian Bielik from Legia Warsaw earlier in the month.
Many believed Wenger needed another centre-back in his squad with Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker the only natural figures in the role currently at the Emirates Stadium.
Calum Chambers has impressed in central defence and Nacho Monreal has shown he can fill in, but the addition of Paulista will definitely add some much needed depth to the Frenchman’s options at the back.
It’s official – @Arsenal have signed Gabriel from Villarreal! Full story here: http://t.co/PTmDsbDkvj #WelcomeGabriel pic.twitter.com/PgkgL21j6G
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) January 28, 2015
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