Arsenal have held positive contract talks with Gabriel Magalhaes as they look to extend his deal again, according to a report.

Arsenal's Brazilian defender #06 Gabriel Magalhaes reacts after failing to score during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brentford at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 9, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes reacts after failing to score during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brentford at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 9, 2024. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Sami Mokbel reports for the Daily Mail that Arsenal have held positive preliminary talks with Gabriel Magalhaes over a new contract, looking to reward his form for the club in 2023/24.

Conversations will continue in the coming weeks, with the primary focus on finishing the season strongly, and Gabriel’s current contract still runs until 2027.

There’s evidently no urgent need to tie the Brazilian defender down, but if things are going well for him and the team, it seems like a good time to start those conversations.

The Evening Standard confirm that talks are underway, and though they’re at an early stage, there’s confidence they’ll reach a positive conclusion.

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Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes addresses a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg football match against FC Porto at the Dragao stadium in Porto on February 20, 2024. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)

Gabriel was one of the first members of the current Arsenal squad to commit to a contract extension, back in 2022, with only Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah signing new contracts longer ago.

Date of last contract extension

  • 22nd July, 2021 – Emile Smith Rowe
  • 18th June, 2022 – Eddie Nketiah
  • 21st October, 2022 – Gabriel Magalhaes
  • 3rd February, 2023 – Gabriel Martinelli
  • 21st February, 2023 – Mohamed Elneny
  • 18th May, 2023 – Aaron Ramsdale
  • 23rd May, 2023 – Bukayo Saka
  • 6th July, 2023 – Reiss Nelson
  • 7th July, 2023 – William Saliba
  • 22nd September, 2023 – Martin Odegaard
  • 14th March, 2024 – Ben White
  • 20th March, 2024 – Takehiro Tomiyasu

Arsenal have obviously signed quite a few new players during that time as well, but most of them have deals lasting until at least 2026, with the exception of one or two like Jorginho (2024 with the option to extend to 2025) and David Raya (loan).

Arsenal's Brazilian defender #06 Gabriel Magalhaes celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 23, 2023. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 23, 2023. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

So once Arsenal have Jorginho and Raya sorted, with Cedric Soares and Mohamed Elneny likely to leave, there are really no pressing contract issues to address this summer.

The Gunners are instead free to start working on key players like Gabriel before their contracts really become a concern.