• Arsenal confirm arrival of Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera on long-term contract in €20m transfer

Arsenal have officially completed the signing of highly-rated Spanish defender Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia, marking their fifth acquisition of the summer transfer window.

The 21-year-old centre-back joins the Gunners on a five-year contract that runs through June 2030, with the club holding an option to extend the deal by another year.

The initial transfer fee stands at €15 million (£13m/$18m), with potential add-ons based on performance metrics pushing the total package up to €20 million (£17m/$23m).

 

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Mosquera was in the final year of his contract with Valencia and had received an extension proposal, which he opted to reject in favour of a move to the Premier League. His decision was driven by the opportunity to test himself at the highest level and work under Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

Born in Alicante to Colombian parents, Mosquera joined Valencia’s youth setup at age 12 and quickly rose through the ranks. He made 90 senior appearances for Los Che, scoring once, and has built a reputation for maturity, composure, and tactical intelligence far beyond his years.

 

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Reacting to the signing, Arteta spoke highly of Mosquera’s potential and versatility.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Cristhian to Arsenal,” Arteta said. “He’s already gained significant La Liga experience at just 21, and his ability to play on either side of central defence makes him a valuable addition to our team. His intelligence and pace are exactly what we look for in a defender. We believe he’ll integrate seamlessly into our setup as we continue to strengthen for the coming season.”

 

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A right-footed centre-back, Mosquera is also comfortable playing on the left side, offering Arteta tactical flexibility as he competes with regulars William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães for a spot in the heart of Arsenal’s defence.

His arrival brings Arsenal’s summer spending close to £140 million, with the club previously bringing in Martín Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Noni Madueke, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Mosquera’s addition underscores Arsenal’s ambition to reinforce their squad ahead of the 2025–26 campaign.

 

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Arsenal’s transfer for highly-rated Spanish defender Cristhian Mosquera has yet to be officially finalized, nearly ten days after a deal was struck with Valencia.

While the agreement is believed to be worth up to €20 million (£17m/$23m), questions are now swirling around the delay in confirmation.

The 21-year-old centre-back reportedly flew to London early last week, where he was welcomed by club officials and even recorded introductory content for Arsenal’s media team. That footage was inadvertently leaked during Noni Madueke’s presentation, further fuelling speculation that the move was imminent.

However, Mosquera was notably absent from the Gunners’ Asia pre-season tour squad, raising eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.

Initial rumours hinted at a potential medical setback, but according to Tribuna Deportiva Valencia, sources close to the player insist that Mosquera successfully completed his medical. Despite the growing curiosity, both Arsenal and Valencia have remained tight-lipped about the exact cause of the hold-up.

Within Arsenal, confidence remains high that the deal will be finalised soon. The club sees Mosquera as a strategic long-term addition, to integrate him gradually into Mikel Arteta’s plans. With William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães firmly established as starters, the Spanish youngster is expected to develop under their shadow and be groomed for future first-team involvement.

For now, the transfer is still on track, though any official unveiling is likely to come only after the conclusion of Arsenal’s Asia tour.

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Valencia FC have announced the appointment of former player Rubén Baraja as the club’s new manager.

The former Valencia midfielder, who played at Mestalla for 11 years and won two La Liga titles, will take over as manager. He will try to lead Los Che, who are now in 18th position and one point from safety, to safety.

He will be joined by Carlos Marchena, another former Valencia star. His assistant will be the World Cup-winning centre-back, and both are expected to be hired on contracts that last through the end of the current campaign.

Baraja has managed before, although not very successfully, at Real Zaragoza, Tenerife, Sporting Gijon, Rayo Vallecano, and Elche. In 2020, after just ten points in ten games, he left La Romareda.

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They take over from Voro, Valencia’s serial caretaker manager, who oversaw three defeats in his time in charge. It looked as if Valencia might trust him until the end of the season, but the desperate situation has forced the Valencia board into action. He had been put in charge after Gennaro Gattuso informed the club he could not turn the situation around.

Baraja and Marchena should at least have the support of the fans as they attempt to save Valencia after Saturday’s huge fan demonstrations. Next, they play Getafe, who are in 19th place and below them, in what appears to be a crucial relegation matchup.

COMUNICADO OFICIAL | RUBÉN BARAJA

🔗 https://t.co/Lnsvk7TTFa#BenvingutBaraja 🦇 #ADNVCF pic.twitter.com/vC5hmPwwma

— Valencia CF (@valenciacf) February 14, 2023

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