Arsenal are on the verge of securing the signing of highly-rated Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, with the 21-year-old now en route to Singapore to join the Gunners on their pre-season tour.
Mosquera has been granted permission by Valencia to link up with the Arsenal squad, having already agreed to personal terms with the North London club. The move signals the final steps in completing what is expected to be a long-term deal for the Spain U21 international.
A versatile and composed defender, Mosquera is expected to add depth and competition to Mikel Arteta’s backline, particularly in central defense, where he will provide cover for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães. He is also capable of playing at right-back, a key asset for the squad following the departure of Takehiro Tomiyasu, whose contract was recently terminated by mutual consent.
Mosquera brings valuable experience despite his young age. He made 90 appearances for Valencia, featuring as a mainstay in their La Liga campaign last season, playing the full 90 minutes in 37 out of 38 league matches.
His arrival comes at a crucial time as Arsenal continue their preparations for the new season. The Gunners will face AC Milan at Singapore’s National Stadium on Wednesday, followed by a clash with Newcastle United at the same venue on Sunday. They will then head to Hong Kong for a derby showdown against Tottenham Hotspur before returning to London.
Mosquera’s inclusion on the tour offers fans an early glimpse of Arsenal’s latest defensive reinforcement and signals the club’s intent to build squad depth ahead of a busy 2025 campaign.
