Valencia signs defender Gabriel Paulista from Arsenal

Arsenal's-Gabriel-Paulista,-,-competes-for-the-ball.-(Tim-Ireland/AP)

Arsenal's Gabriel Paulista, , competes for the ball. (Tim Ireland/AP)

VALENCIA, Spain — Valencia has signed Gabriel Paulista from Arsenal, ending the Brazilian defender’s 2 1/2-year stay at the English club and sealing his return to the Spanish league.

Arsenal announced the transfer on Friday, saying the fee was undisclosed.

Gabriel never established himself as a regular after moving to Emirates Stadium from Villarreal, initially being the backup to Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker before Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding joined in 2016 to add further competition at centre back.

He started 37 league games in total, but wasn’t the dominating defender Arsenal thought it signed.

Valencia has again turned to the Premier League to bolster its defensive options, having signed Eliaquim Mangala on loan from Manchester City last season.

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