Arsenal’s summer rebuild continues to take shape, with highly-rated defender Christian Mosquera spotted at Heathrow Airport ahead of his anticipated arrival in Singapore to join up with Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad for their pre-season tour.
The 19-year-old centre-back, who is set to join the Gunners from Valencia in a deal worth just over £13 million plus add-ons, has already completed the paperwork and passed his medical earlier in the week. His appearance at Heathrow all but confirms that the official club announcement is imminent. Sources close to the situation, including @HandofArsenal and @gunnerblog, confirmed the sighting and expect him to feature in the upcoming fixtures.
Just spotted Christian Mosquera in Heathrow to join up with Arsenal’s pre season tour in Singapore #afc #arsenal #mosquera @HandofArsenal @gunnerblog pic.twitter.com/Kd0XtgjBEB
— Tom (@tom_austin2000) July 22, 2025
Mosquera’s arrival comes at a pivotal time. Arsenal’s defensive depth is being restructured, with Jakub Kiwior expected to leave if a suitable offer arrives, and the club making early moves to secure young talent capable of competing immediately. Mosquera’s composure, physicality, and ball-playing ability fit the mould of a modern Arteta defender, and he is widely seen as a long-term successor in the heart of Arsenal’s backline.
Pre-season kickoff in Singapore will be too soon for Mosquera
He is expected to link up with the squad and while the friendly against AC Milan at the Singapore National Stadium on Wednesday could come too soon, he should be in line to start featuring from the weekend. With William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães still easing into full match sharpness, Mosquera could get minutes quickly to start building chemistry with his new teammates.
Mikel Arteta has been clear in his ambition to fine-tune the squad during pre-season, both in terms of physical readiness and tactical integration. With additions like Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, and Christian Norgaard already settled into camp, Mosquera’s arrival rounds out what has been a productive week for Arsenal fans.
As the Gunners aim to make the final leap toward major silverware in 2025/26, signings like Mosquera are a clear sign that the club is investing in both the present and the future.
