Arsenal completed their fifth summer signing with new number three shirt, Cristhian Mosquera arriving the Emirates form Valencia, Softfootball.
According to Arsenal official website, the Spanish U-21 defender penned a five-year contract, with an option for a further 12 months on an initial fee in the region of 15m euros (£13m).
It is not a typical signing which the North London team needs because they have the best defensive though in the premier league in Gabriel and Saliba for two consecutive seasons. And it would be difficult for Mosquera to break into the first team squad.
Mosquera was born in Spain and also eligible to play for Colombia. He made 34 appearances at youth level for Spain between under-15 and under-21 levels. He was also a member of the gold medal-winning squad at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The Spain Under-21 international joined Valencia in 2016 as a 12-year-old before making his first-team debut in 2022 when he became the youngest centre-back to play for the club. He made 90 appearances for Valencia and was a regular for them last season, playing the full match in 37 of the club’s 38 La Liga games as they finished 12th.
The Gunners have so far signed midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad for £51m deal, Christian Norgaard from Brentford for £15m. Spaniard Kepa Arrizabalaga was signed for £5m from Chelsea before Noni Madueke also arrived from the Blues for a £52m deal fee.
A video released on Arsenal’s official X handle shows Cristhian Mosquera being unveiled as the club’s newest signing. Watch below:
Building from the back.
Cristhian Mosquera is a Gunner ✍️ pic.twitter.com/ySYdBYXPY7
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 24, 2025
Mosquera is by no means a marquee signing but he is a good player to have as a back-up and here are some of his strengths.
Defensive intelligence
As a player with Spanish football philosophy his level of intelligence is very high. Mosquera is a young, versatile, and intelligent defender known for his strong tackling, good anticipation, and comfort on the ball.
While not a traditional ball-playing center-back, he has shown improvement in his passing and ability to carry the ball out of defense.
Defensive timing
Because he is calm under pressure, Mosquera times his tackles excellently, particularly in one-on-one situations, and is known for his ability to win the ball back from opponents.
He is also good at reading the game and intercepting passes. He is a quick defender and able to cover ground effectively and is useful in nullifying counter-attacks.
Strong in duels
Mosquera is a promising young defender with a well-rounded skillset. His aerial duel success rate is not a particular strength, although this is an area that often improves with age and experience.
But he doesn’t lose many duels. He excels in one-on-one defensive situations and he is quick at covering ground.
Arsenal defeated AC Milan 1-0 in their first game of the Asia tour in Singapore courtesy a goal from Bukayo Saka.
