Arsenal are closing in on teenage centre‑back Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia, with personal terms reportedly agreed and negotiations at a very advanced stage . The Spanish Under‑21 international has garnered interest from Premier League rivals, but it’s Arsenal who appear set to win the race, with the deal likely to be wrapped up in the coming days .
At just 20 or 21 years old, Mosquera brings both high potential and real experience from La Liga. He has featured in nearly all of Valencia’s matches over the past two seasons—starting 70 out of 72 league games—accumulating over 6,300 minutes on the pitch, more than any other player in his age group across Europe’s top five leagues . That kind of reliability and maturity is rare in players of his age.
Standing at around 6ft 2in (1.88 m), he combines size with pace and one‑on‑one defensive skill. He’s considered one of La Liga’s best in individual duels, boasting solid ground‑duel win stats—though his aerial game is an area Arsenal will seek to improve . Technical proficiency shines through too: he achieved over 90% passing accuracy, frequently progressing the ball forward and helping build out from the back .
Versatility is another asset—though naturally a centre‑back, Mosquera has also filled in as a right‑back and even in a back three. That fits Arsenal’s preference for adaptable defenders who can slot into Arteta’s fluid tactical setups . With Takehiro Tomiyasu departing and the need for depth behind William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães growing, Mosquera offers practical cover and future options.
In short, Arsenal’s move for Mosquera reflects a strategy of blending immediate reinforcement with long‑term investment. His blend of defensive tenacity, positional awareness, comfort on the ball, and adaptability aligns well with the club’s playing philosophy. Though he won’t start ahead of Saliba or Gabriel immediately, his presence will push the existing pair and provide much‑needed depth across the defe
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