Mikel Arteta has said new signing Cristhian Mosquera will add good quality to the Arsenal squad.
Arsenal announced the signing of Mosquera from Valencia on Thursday, after the Spanish U-21 international put pen to paper on a long term deal.
He is Arsenal’s fifth signing in the summer transfer window after Kepa Arrizabalaga, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi joined.
Speaking after the signing of Mosquera
Arteta said: “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.
“From all of us, we welcome Cristhian and his family to the club.”
Also commenting on the acquisition of Mosquera is Arsenal’s Sporting Director Andrea Berta, who described the defender as an important signing for the club’s future.
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“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.
“Cristhian is a versatile defender who will strengthen our squad. We cannot wait to see him playing for us. Together with everyone at the club, we warmly welcome Cristhian and his family to Arsenal.”
Mosquera’s Remarkable Rise From Valencia’s Reserves To First Team
Mosquera joined Valencia CF’s youth setup in 2016, aged 12. On 22 August 2020, while still in the Juvenil A squad, he renewed his contract with the club until 2023.
He made his senior debut with the reserves on 4 September 2021, starting in a 3–1 Tercera División RFEF home win over CD Castellón B.
Having already featured on the bench for a few Liga fixtures that season, he made his first team debut on 16 January 2022, starting in a 1–0 away win over CD Atlético Baleares, for the season’s Copa del Rey.
At the age of 17 years, six months and 23 days, he became the eight-youngest player in the club’s history, and the youngest centre-back.
