F.C. Copenhagen sign Gabriel Pereira
Brazilian Gabriel Pereira Magalhães dos Santos has joined F.C. Copenhagen from Portuguese club Gil Vicente FC.
The 24-year-old centre-back has signed a contract for five years and will wear shirt number 5 with "Gabriel" on the back.
Gabriel has played in Portugal since 2021 and for Gil Vicente since January 2023. F.C. Copenhagen have been following the defender for quite some time.
"With Gabriel, we are getting an incredibly strong centre-back," says sporting director Sune Smith-Nielsen.
"He is a player we have followed closely for an extended period, and we are pleased to have succeeded in bringing him to Copenhagen.
"He has recently played a strong and reliable season in the Portuguese league, and he is a player of high quality who will strengthen our team immediately.
"We have been very focused on bringing in defenders with both high quality and potential, and although there is still work ahead of us, the pieces are starting to fall into place."
Gabriel: Pride and Joy
Gabriel is very happy and proud of his move to F.C. Copenhagen.
"It is a great honour for me that such a big club as F.C. Copenhagen wants me. I see the move as the right step for me at this point in my career, where I am moving up to the next level," he says.
"I want to make my family proud, and I feel that this is a club where you 'fight for the logo.' And that's what I've come here to do - to fight for the logo and for Copenhagen, so we achieve our goals.
"I know the club, of course, and have seen them perform in Europe. I have watched plenty of videos of the stadium where the fans create an amazing atmosphere. I look forward to experiencing that, and I am more than ready to fight for F.C. Copenhagen."
Neestrup: Strong in duels
Head coach Jacob Neestrup is looking forward to bringing Gabriel Pereira into action as soon as possible.
"Gabriel is a centre-back, who is strong in duels, skilled at handling one-on-one situations, and he is also a player who is willing to take charge," he says.
"He has a good eye for the opportunities that arise during a game, and he will be a strong asset in building our play. I am very excited to get him into the squad and out on the training pitch."
Gabriel will train with the squad once his work permit is in place, and his number 5 shirt is confirmed also after the transfer window closes.
