Arsenal have completed the signing of highly-rated Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera for an initial fee of £13m, with add-ons potentially taking the total package to around £16.5m. The 21-year-old Spain Under-21 international has penned a five-year contract with the Gunners, which includes an option for a further 12 months, and is set to join his new teammates in Singapore for the club’s pre-season tour of Asia. The transfer marks Arsenal’s fifth acquisition of a busy summer window, pushing their total expenditure past £140m as manager Mikel Arteta continues to shape a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League title.
Mosquera, born in Alicante, Spain, to Colombian parents, has been a standout performer in La Liga over the past two seasons, amassing 90 senior appearances for Valencia since his debut in January 2022. Last season, the versatile defender played every minute of 37 out of Valencia’s 38 league matches, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most promising young centre-backs. His ability to operate as both a right-sided and left-sided centre-back, as well as at right-back, makes him an ideal fit for Arteta’s tactical setup, providing competition and cover for Arsenal’s first-choice defensive pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
The transfer comes at a crucial time for Arsenal, who have been keen to strengthen their backline following the departure of Takehiro Tomiyasu, whose contract was mutually terminated earlier this month. Mosquera’s arrival fills the gap left by the injury-prone Japanese defender, offering Arteta a reliable and adaptable option. The young Spaniard’s composure on the ball, with a passing accuracy of 91.2% last season, and his exceptional ground duel success rate of 70.7%—the highest among La Liga centre-backs with at least 100 duels contested—highlight his quality and potential to thrive in the Premier League.
Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, Mosquera expressed his excitement about the move, saying, “I’m joining a historic, massive club. When you arrive here with your family, you really feel the greatness of this place. My career has moved faster than I expected, and I’ve had to mature quickly. Coming here is a chance to keep learning and improving.” Reflecting on his time at Valencia, where he joined the academy at age 12, Mosquera added a heartfelt note in an interview with SER, stating, “This is my home and it will always be. I arrived here at 12 years old, and I’m leaving as a man. I’m a bit sad, but this is an opportunity I couldn’t let pass me by.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised the signing, highlighting Mosquera’s potential to develop into a key player. “As a 21-year-old defender, Cristhian has already performed consistently well with significant experience in La Liga,” Arteta said. “He is an intelligent player with good pace, who can play centrally and on both sides. He is a young player with exciting talent and enormous potential, who will fit well into our squad as we continue to prepare for next season.”
Sporting Director Andrea Berta echoed Arteta’s sentiments, emphasizing the long-term vision behind the signing. “We’re very happy and excited to have signed a hugely talented young player in Cristhian Mosquera,” Berta said. “We identified Cristhian as one of the strongest young defenders in European football, and he is an important signing for our future. He is a versatile defender who will strengthen our squad, and we cannot wait to see him playing for us.”
Mosquera’s move to Arsenal follows a competitive transfer race, with Valencia reportedly offering the defender a new contract to fend off interest from the Gunners and other clubs, including RB Leipzig. However, Arsenal’s persistent negotiations and the player’s agreement to personal terms paved the way for the deal to be finalized. The transfer fee, while modest compared to Arsenal’s other summer signings—such as Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, and Kepa Arrizabalaga—reflects a strategic approach to securing young talent with significant upside.