Arsenal agrees terms to sign defender, offers youngster new contract extension

Arsenal is close to signing Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, with the player agreeing to personal terms.

The 21-year-old Spain Under-21 international has made 90 appearances for Valencia and was a regular last season, playing the full match in 37 of the club’s 38 La Liga games.

Mosquera can play at both centre-back and right-back, filling the gap left by Takehiro Tomiyasu’s departure. He’s an excellent one-on-one defender, winning 70.7% of his ground duels in La Liga last season. 

Mosquera also excels in winning possession, with an average of 5.15 recoveries per 90 minutes. The young defender’s versatility is a significant asset, having played in various positions, including right-sided centre-back and left centre-back. 

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta sees Mosquera as a valuable addition to the squad, providing depth and competition for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.

Mosquera’s move to Arsenal is expected to be finalized soon, with the club hoping to complete the deal for a fee in excess of €20 million. Valencia had rejected an initial bid of around €14 million, but Arsenal is confident of securing the transfer.

With Mosquera joining the squad, Arsenal now has a robust defensive lineup. Jakub Kiwior provides cover for Gabriel, while Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, and Ben White have experience playing in central defense.

The signing of Mosquera is part of Arsenal’s busy transfer window, with the club also close to completing deals for striker Viktor Gyokeres and having already signed Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Arsenal is poised to offer teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri a new contract, with talks between the club and player expected to intensify in the coming days. 

The offer is likely to be a five-year deal or a four-year contract with an option for an additional year. Nwaneri’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the next season, and both parties are eager to reach an agreement.

The 18-year-old academy graduate has been impressive for Arsenal, making 37 appearances and scoring nine goals last season. His performances have earned him a spot in the England Under-21 team, and he is considered a key player in Arsenal’s future plans. 

Nwaneri’s existing deal was signed in March 2024, when he became the youngest player in Premier League history at just 15 years and 181 days old.