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Arsenal signs Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera for £13 million, raising their summer spending to £140 million. Mosquera joins on a five-year deal for defensive cover.
Cristhian Mosquera. (Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Arsenal announced on Thursday the signing of Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, bringing their summer transfer window spending close to £140 million ($189 million).
The Spain under-21 international joins for an initial fee of around £13 million, with performance-related add-ons, and has agreed to a five-year deal with the option of an additional year.
The 21-year-old, Arsenal’s fifth signing in recent weeks, is expected to provide cover for William Saliba and Gabriel in the centre of the Gunners’ defence, though he can play anywhere along the back line.
Mosquera, who made 41 appearances for Valencia last season, has joined Arsenal for their tour of Singapore and Hong Kong.
“It means a lot to me,” he told the club website. “There’s been a lot of hard work behind all of this.
“It’s an opportunity that came up and 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 this place.”
Manager Mikel Arteta described Mosquera as “an intelligent player with good pace, who can play centrally and on both sides”.
Mosquera joins Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke in moving to the Emirates.
Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly have also signed new contracts during the off-season, with a long-term extension for teenager Ethan Nwaneri believed to be nearly completed.
Arsenal remain hopeful of signing striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon, although a deal worth up to £65 million is not believed to be imminent.
The Gunners, who have finished as Premier League runners-up three times in a row, start their 2025/26 campaign against Manchester United on August 17.
Who Is Cristhian Mosquera?
Cristhian Andrey Mosquera Ibargüen (born 27 June 2004) is a Spanish professional centre-back. Born in Alicante to Colombian parents, he first played basketball and futsal before joining Hércules CF and entering Valencia CF’s academy in 2016.
He made his senior debut for Valencia B in September 2021 and first-team debut in January 2022 during the Copa del Rey, becoming Valencia’s youngest centre-back and the fourth-youngest La Liga debutant.
Promoted to Valencia’s main squad in 2023, he scored his inaugural La Liga goal in February 2025. Internationally, Mosquera has featured for Spain from U15 to U18 and earned Olympic gold with the U23s in 2024. Renowned for his speed, aerial strength, anticipation, and ball-playing skills, he is also capable of playing as a full-back on either side.
With AFP Inputs
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