Perhaps it is the nature of the sport in 2025, this burning desire to see new signings, or what I like to call ‘shiny new toy syndrome’. The idea that for fans of clubs like Arsenal, new signings are craved and wanted so much so that what you already have gets forgotten and taken for granted.
I remember covering the club where players would frustrate supporters for not applying themselves enough on the field. But then, when they were out of the side and their influence on the side was not seen suddenly, they would again become the best player, and there would be calls for them to come back in, only for the desired impact not to materialise when they did – you can come up with the names.
With the chase on for several summer transfers and the club already pushing ahead with moves for the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Benjamin Sesko in the works, the club confirmed one of the summer signings, which, after just a couple of days, appears to have been forgotten. The news that Gabriel Magalhaes had committed his future to the club until 2029 is a massive signing for the club.
Yes, his injury at the backend of 2024/25 put a frustrating end to his season, but he was well within the running for the Player of the Season award prior to needing hamstring surgery. Perhaps with him in the team, Arsenal’s Champions League fortunes could have turned out differently.
That said, Jakub Kiwior put in an excellent shift in his stead. Gabriel had been linked with an exit from the club, and interest in a big-money move to Saudi Arabia had persisted, yet with work from the new sporting director Andrea Berta and talks with Mikel Arteta, of course, the club convinced him to sign a new deal.
As one of the world’s best centre-halves – certainly in the top 10 and perhaps for some the top five – Gabriel’s renewal is a massive piece of business for the club this summer. Further talks are now on with William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and Thomas Partey regarding their futures, with the club extremely busy both internally and externally.
It should not be taken for granted just how key it is to retain your best players. Keeping Gabriel at the club is something which deserves greater celebration and stands as a positive sign for things to come. It is a message to fellow teammates that this is the right place to be.
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