Arsenal are on the verge of securing a deal for Valencia’s highly-rated centre-back Cristhian Mosquera, as they continue their ambitious summer transfer window. The 21-year-old Spanish defender has agreed personal terms with the Gunners, and negotiations between Arsenal and Valencia are nearing completion, according to reports from The Athletic. The move underscores Arsenal’s priority to bolster their defensive options as they aim to challenge for the Premier League title in the 2025/26 season.
🚨🔴⚪️ BREAKING: Christian Mosquera to Arsenal, here we go! Verbal agreement in place with formal steps to follow.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 14, 2025
€15m fee plus add-ons, total package under €20m. Long term deal in place, Mosquera who only wanted Arsenal.
Medical ready later this week if all goes to plan. 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/O80qKKxHnt
Mosquera's Strengths
Mosquera, who emerged as a standout performer in La Liga last season, made 41 appearances for Valencia, starting 37 of their 38 league matches. His composure, physicality, and ability to read the game also earned him a call-up to Spain’s under-21 side, where he featured in three of their four matches at the 2025 European Championship. Arsenal view Mosquera as the ideal cover for their first-choice centre-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, who played 42 and 51 matches respectively last season.
Cristhian Mosquera - 1v1 Defending and Recovery (2024/25)pic.twitter.com/6pyGvsa9nU
— AFC_Adi (@AFC_Adi06) July 13, 2025
Arsenals's Other Deals
The Gunners have been active in the transfer market, having already secured the signings of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi (£60m), Brentford’s Christian Norgaard (£15m), and Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5m). Additionally, Arsenal have agreed a deal for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke and reached an agreement in principle to sign Sporting CP’s prolific striker Viktor Gyokeres for €73.5 million. The potential addition of Mosquera further highlights sporting director Andrea Berta’s aggressive approach to squad-building under Mikel Arteta’s vision.
🚨 Agreement in principle reached for Viktor Gyokeres move from Sporting Lisbon to Arsenal. Deal worth €63.5m guaranteed + €10m add-ons & Sweden striker’s representative waives fee to help facilitate 27yo making #SportingCP to #AFC switch @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/sL5lKu4oPS
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 13, 2025
Arsenal’s pursuit of Mosquera comes after they missed out on Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, who joined Real Madrid earlier this summer. With Takehiro Tomiyasu departing the club by mutual consent in July 2025 after a season plagued by a recurring knee injury that limited him to just one appearance, Arsenal’s depth at centre-back had been a concern. While Jakub Kiwior, Jurrien Timber, Ben White, and Riccardo Calafiori provide backup options, Mosquera’s arrival would add youthful quality and long-term potential to the squad.
Why Mosquera?
The 21-year-old’s versatility and consistency make him a perfect fit for Arteta’s high-pressing, possession-based system. His ability to play out from the back and handle one-on-one duels aligns with the profiles of Gabriel and Saliba, ensuring seamless integration into the squad. With negotiations between Arsenal and Valencia reportedly in their final stages, fans can expect Mosquera to join the club’s pre-season preparations at the Sobha Realty Training Centre soon.
As Arsenal continue to reshape their squad, the addition of Mosquera signals their intent to build a robust defense capable of competing on multiple fronts. With the Premier League season fast approaching, the Gunners’ latest acquisition could prove pivotal in their quest to end their run of three consecutive second-place finishes and claim the coveted title.
