Arsenal have officially confirmed the signing of Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera on a long-term contract.
The 21-year-old adds further depth to an Arsenal backline that already boasts the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães. Mosquera will wear the number three shirt during his time in north London.
In his first interview with the club’s media channels, Mosquera expressed his delight at the move. “It means a lot to me. I’m joining a historic, massive club,” he said. “When the coach and the sporting director show that belief in you, it really helped convince me to come here.”
“Coming here is a chance to keep learning and improving,” he continued. “I’ll be working with great players and a top-class coaching staff, so that will help me develop personally. I’m a player with a lot of energy… I’m fully motivated and excited.”
Mosquera, who made 82 La Liga appearances for Valencia after graduating from the club’s academy, has already joined his new teammates on their pre-season tour of Asia. He could potentially play a part in Sunday’s friendly clash with Premier League rivals Newcastle United.
The Spaniard joins Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, and Kepa Arrizabalaga as one of Arsenal’s key summer arrivals. The club’s focus is now expected to turn to finalizing a deal for their top striker target, Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP.