Arsenal have confirmed the signing of highly rated Spanish defender Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia for an initial fee of around €15 million (£13 million). The 21-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Gunners, which includes an option for an additional year.
Mosquera, who is capable of playing both as a centre-back and a right-back, arrives as a direct replacement for Takehiro Tomiyasu, who mutually agreed to terminate his contract earlier this month. Arsenal hailed the acquisition as a major coup, calling him “one of the strongest young defenders in European football.”
In his first interview with the club, Mosquera spoke of his excitement at joining the North London side.
“I couldn’t let it pass me by. I’m joining a historic, massive club. When you arrive here with your family, you really feel the greatness of the place,” he said.
“My career has moved faster than I expected and I’ve had to mature fast. Coming here is a chance to keep learning and improving.”
A product of Valencia’s academy, Mosquera joined the Spanish side at age 12 in 2016 and made his first-team debut in 2022. He quickly established himself as a defensive mainstay, becoming the youngest centre-back to play for the club. Last season, he featured in 37 of Valencia’s 38 La Liga matches, playing the full 90 minutes in each of them as the team finished 12th.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his enthusiasm about the new signing, describing Mosquera as a player of “exciting talent and enormous potential.” Sporting director Andrea Berta echoed the sentiment, underscoring Mosquera’s long-term importance to the club.
“We identified Cristhian as one of the strongest young defenders in European football, and he is an important signing for our future,” Berta said.
“Cristhian is a versatile defender who will strengthen our squad.”
Mosquera becomes the latest addition in a busy summer transfer window for Arsenal, following the arrivals of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, and Noni Madueke. Sporting sources also indicate that striker Viktor Gyökeres is close to finalizing a move to the Emirates.
The Spain U21 international is expected to link up with Arsenal’s squad on their pre-season tour of Asia, having already received travel clearance from Valencia before the deal was finalized. The Gunners defeated AC Milan 1-0 in Singapore on Wednesday and are set to face Newcastle United at the same venue on Sunday, before heading to Hong Kong to take on rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Mosquera’s arrival marks another step in Arsenal’s long-term squad strengthening strategy, as they continue to build toward domestic and European success under Mikel Arteta.
