Joining a historic club like Arsenal means a lot to Cristhian Mosquera

Cristhian Mosquera: Honoured to Join a Historic Club

For Cristhian Mosquera, joining Arsenal wasn’t simply a career step, it was a milestone that carried deep meaning. Standing at the heart of a club steeped in legacy, he realised this was the kind of stage young players dream of reaching.

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Arsenal’s newest centre-back, 21 years old, is no stranger to the demands of top-flight football, but even for someone who's played over 90 senior games for Valencia and won Olympic gold, this moment was different.

“It means a lot to me,” Mosquera said during his first interview with the club, as their offical website quoted. “There’s been a lot of hard work behind all of this. It’s an opportunity that came up and 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 this place.”

The Spain youth international’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Since the start of the 2023/24 season, no under-21 player across Europe’s top five leagues has clocked more minutes. But despite the head start, Mosquera is not taking anything for granted.

“It’s true my career has moved faster than expected and I’ve had to mature fast,” he said. “Coming here is a chance to keep learning and improving. I’ll be working with great players and a top-class coaching staff, so that will help me develop personally.”

Arsenal fans can expect a fiery, motivated addition to their defensive ranks. Mosquera describes himself as “a player with a lot of energy” who is eager to push his own boundaries. “I’m young, so I still have plenty to give. I’m fully motivated and excited. Above all, I want to improve, which will create competition within the squad. I’m really happy.”

His new journey is also being cheered on by familiar voices. The Colombian-born defender revealed he's kept in close contact with two former Gunners—Gabriel Paulista, his ex-Valencia teammate, and Yunus Musah, a former Hale End product.

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“I have special friendships with both of them,” Mosquera said. “When Gabi and I were at Valencia, he always said Arsenal was on a different level and something magical. I also played with Yunus once here in London. He said the same about how huge this club is.”

With his Arsenal shirt already printed and the buzz of pre-season in the air, Mosquera is ready to write a new chapter in N5. For the young defender, this transfer is a moment of belonging.