Cristhian Mosquera is en route to Singapore to link up with Arsenal’s pre-season tour, signaling the Gunners’ imminent completion of a deal for the highly-rated Valencia defender.
The 21-year-old has received permission from the Spanish club to join Arsenal, having already agreed to personal terms. Mosquera, a Spain Under-21 international, is expected to provide valuable competition for current Arsenal center-backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. His versatility, being able to play at both center-back and right-back, will also fill the gap in the squad left by the departure of Takehiro Tomiyasu, whose contract was mutually terminated.
Mosquera has made 90 appearances for Valencia, becoming a regular starter last season by playing the full 90 minutes in 37 of the club’s 38 La Liga matches.
Arsenal’s pre-season schedule in Asia includes a match against AC Milan in Singapore’s National Stadium on Wednesday, followed by a game against Newcastle at the same venue on Sunday. The team will then travel to Hong Kong to face Tottenham Hotspur before returning to London.
