Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee – believed to be over £10m – with Joel Campbell moving to the Spanish club on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 24-year-old Gabriel, who joined Villarreal from the Salvador-based Vitória in 2013, told his new club’s website the Brazilian said: “I came from a club that is not that big in Brazilian football. I went to Spanish football and that was another dream come true, to play in Europe. A while ago I had a really huge desire to play in the Premier League, so since that point I put it in my head that I really wanted to do it. I had a talk with my family and I told them that it was my dream to play in the Premier League. Getting here to such a big club is so gratifying.

“I am arriving at a big club and the fans can expect to find a Gabriel with a great will to help everyone. Not just thinking of me as an individual, because to me that is not important. I care more about helping the team and my team-mates. I want to help everyone, so the fans can expect a Gabriel that on the field has a lot of will to be able to help the team win important things.”

Primarily a centre-back, Gabriel can also play at both right- and left-back, and provides defensive cover in Arsenal’s squad that has been lacking since Thomas Vermaelen’s departure for Barcelona in the summer. There was concern that Gabriel would struggle to gain a work permit as he has not been capped for Brazil but the club have confirmed that one has been arranged and the transfer is complete.