Arsenal sign defender Mosquera from Valencia for £13m

Mosquera joins Gunners on five-year deal with option for further 12 months

Arsenal have completed the signing of Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia for an initial fee of £13m.

The 21-year-old joins the Gunners on a five-year deal, with an option for an extra 12 months.

Mosquera can play at both centre-back and right-back and can replace the role of the departed Takehiro Tomiyasu.

"I couldn't let it pass me by. I'm joining a historic, massive club. When you arrive here with your family, you really feel the greatness of the place," Mosquera said.

"My career has moved faster than I expected and I've had to mature fast. Coming here is a chance to keep learning and improving."

Mosquera made 90 appearances for Valencia and was a regular for them last season, playing the full match in 37 of the club's 38 La Liga games as they finished 12th.

The Spain Under-21 international joined Valencia in 2016 as a 12-year-old before making his first-team debut at 18. 

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hailed Mosquera as a player with "exciting talent and enormous potential" while sporting director Andrea Berta also praised the defender.

"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," Berta said.

He follows Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke in being added to Mikel Arteta's squad this summer, with Viktor Gyokeres also close to joining the Gunners.

Mosquera is set to join up with the Arsenal squad on their pre-season tour in Asia as he had already been given permission to travel by Valencia before the deal had been confirmed.