Arsenal have completed the signing of Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia in a deal worth an initial £13 million, Afrosport reports.
The 21-year-old has penned a five-year contract with the Gunners, with the option for a further year. He is expected to join up with his new teammates on their pre-season tour of Asia.
“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,” Mosquera told the club website.
“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.”
Building from the back.
Cristhian Mosquera is a Gunner ✍️ pic.twitter.com/ySYdBYXPY7
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 24, 2025
The Spain Under-21 international joined Valencia as a 12-year-old in 2016 and slowly progressed through their youth ranks. He earned his first-team debut in 2022 and has made 90 appearances for the La Liga club.
He is the youngest centre-back to play for Valencia and was an ever-present in the side last season, featuring in 37 of their 38 league games.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his happiness at the arrival of the defender, who he said is a young player “exciting talent and enormous potential”.
“We’re delighted to welcome Cristhian to Arsenal. As a 21-year-old defender, Cristhian has already performed consistently well with significant experience in La Liga. 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. Cristhian adds good quality to our squad, and we look forward to working with him and making him feel at home with us.”
Sporting Director Andrea Berta said: “We’re very happy and excited to have signed a hugely talented young player in Cristhian Mosquera. We identified Cristhian as one of the strongest young defenders in European football, and he is an important signing for our future.
He becomes the fourth signing through the door at the Emirates Stadium this summer, joining Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke. The Gunners are also awaiting the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres, who is set to undergo a medical before finalizing his move to the club from Sporting.
Mosquera will wear the number three shirt at Arsenal most recently worn by Kieran Tierney and previously by the likes of Ashley Cole, Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs and Lee Dixon.
Arsenal defeated AC Milan 1-0 in at the National Stadium in Singapore on Wednesday, and will take on Newcastle United at same venue on Sunday.
Arteta’s men will then head to Hong Kong to face Tottenham Hotspur before returning to London.
