Cristhian Mosquera has completed his move from Valencia after making clear to his former club that Arsenal was the only club he wanted to join.
The 21-year-old centre-back signed a long-term deal following an agreement worth an initial £13 million, with the reduced fee reflecting his contract having entered its final year.
Still, Arsenal have landed another bargain, with Mosquera currently valued at around €30m.
Valencia, who had been pushing to extend Mosquera’s deal, and fielded interest from AFC Bournemouth and several Serie A clubs, released a statement confirming the player’s stance after the move was official.
“Valencia CF and Arsenal FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of Cristhian Mosquera to the English club,” it read.
“This decision comes as a result of the clear and unequivocal desire expressed by the player, who has made it clear he did not wish to renew his contract with Valencia CF and expressed his exclusive intention to join Arsenal FC.”
Speaking after being unveiled, Mosquera said: “It means a lot to me. 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.
“It’s true my career has moved faster than expected and I’ve had to mature fast. 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.
“I’m a player with a lot of energy. 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.”
Mosquera made 41 appearances for Valencia last season, earned his first senior Spain cap, and played for the under-21 side at the European Championships.
He will qualify as an under-21 player for Premier League registration, but not Champions League.
The deal was all but complete for weeks with unspecified ‘bureaucratic’ problems causing a delay in completion, according to reports in Spain on Friday morning.
Mosquera will wear the number 3 shirt, following in the footsteps of Kieran Tierney, Kieran Gibbs, Bacary Sagna, Ashley Cole, Igors Stepanovs, David O’Leary, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, Steve Williams, Tommy Caton, John Devine, Stewart Robson, Kenny Sansom, Steve Walford, John Matthews, Peter Storey, Peter Simpson, Sammy Nelson, Pat Rice, Tom Walley, Bob McNab, Frank McLintock, Fred Clarke, Billy McCullough, Len Wills, Dennis Evans, Walley Barnes, Joe Wade, Joe Mercer, Laurie Scott, Lionel Smith, Frank Hill, Eddie Hapgood, Horace Cope, Alf Baker, Bob John, and Arthur Hutchins who wore it for the first time in the 1922/23 season.