Arsenal Appear to Accidentally Reveal Fifth Summer Signing in Blunder During Noni Madueke Unveiling

Arsenal seem to have inadvertently confirmed the signing of centre-back Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia, following a slip-up during the unveiling of new arrival Noni Madueke.

The error occurred during the announcement of Madueke’s £52 million transfer from Chelsea, with promotional images of the winger shared across Arsenal’s official platforms and distributed by Getty Images.

However, eagle-eyed fans noticed an unexpected twist. Among the collection of photos made available by Getty — a leading media company known for providing stock images and football photography — was an image that appeared to show Mosquera undergoing his official Arsenal media duties.

The photo in question featured the Spanish defender sitting under studio lighting across from a member of Arsenal’s media team, typically part of a club’s arrival-day interviews. The image was swiftly removed from the Getty Images site, but not before it was picked up and widely circulated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Football journalist Chris Davison commented: “As others have pointed out, Cristhian Mosquera's Arsenal interview was accidentally uploaded with Madueke’s photos on Getty Images.”

Supporters were quick to react. One fan replied: “Might as well announce him now then.” Another added: “This surely has to be confirmed now. So obvious.” A third post read: “Announce him now — what’s to hide?”

Mosquera, who reportedly turned down interest from other Premier League clubs including Bournemouth, is believed to have completed an £18 million move to north London. An official announcement is expected imminently.

The 19-year-old will add defensive depth to Mikel Arteta’s squad, providing cover for first-choice centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel.

Mosquera will be Arsenal’s fifth signing of the summer, following Madueke’s arrival. The club have also secured the services of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, and Christian Nørgaard in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Arsenal continue to pursue Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres, with negotiations ongoing. The Swedish international remains a key target as the Gunners prepare to mount another Premier League title challenge after finishing second last season.

Arteta’s side are set to kick off their 2024/25 campaign away to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, 17 August.