Arsenal have confirmed the signing of centre-back Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia.
The 24-year-old Germany international arrives on a long-term contract in a deal purported to be worth £32m + add-ons.
Born in Germany to an Albanian family, Mustafi began his career at Hamburg before signing for Everton in 2009. He went on to make his debut for the Toffees in the Europa League that year but was never thrust into Premier League action at any point during his three-year stint at Goodison Park.
The defender helped Sampdoria secure promotion to Serie A after moving to Italy in 2012 and then sealed a switch to La Liga in 2014 when Valencia snapped him up for €8 million. He’s since been a regular at the Mestalla playing 63 times over the last two years.
Like Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil, Mustafi was part of Germany’s victorious squad at the World Cup in Brazil. He featured three times after a late call-up to replace the injured Marco Reus. The defender garnered further international experience this summer at Euro 2016.
Speaking about Mustafi’s arrival, Arsene Wenger said: “He is at the right age. He has good experience. He is a very focused player who can play with the ball as well. We have taken a great player but have prepared well for the future.”
Mustafi will provide much-needed cover at the back in the absence of compatriot Per Mertesacker and Gabriel, who is out for two months.
Fasted post of all time
The three people that thumbed the above comment up please report to Blogs in the morning.
And with that my friends the ‘incoming’ door firmly closes…
The ‘outgoing’ door, well, someone needs to find the sodding key!
Mr. Debuchy: Ligue 1 is that way. Thanks for coming.
But who covers for Hector in the event of injury/loss of form?
Mustafi at right back, Holding in the middle.
Jenko!
Corporal Jenkinson? When healthy, that is. I thought he did well at West Ham and deserves a chance.
thought he was out til chrimbo…..
Defence is strongest since the invincibles. We now have one of the best defence in the league.
Defence = world class.
Midfield = world class
Strikers = good.
In terms of personnel, yes, it’s one of the best defences in the league. In terms of how it operates as a unit, I don’t think we can claim that. It’s not what I’d call a well-drilled unit, like teams of the past.
Strikers=potentially world class. Lucas might become one and the other strikers might step up their games as well.
I think we will have to wait and see how good the attack is. Saturday was encouraging, and Lucas looks like he could fit in very well.
Also we have Ozil, which is nice for us 🙂
Yeah. He’s quite good a football that lad.
Agreed! Let’s stand behind the team all the way as we make Manure, Chelski, and Oil City cry!
(You must be from, or living in, Korea, no?)
United fielded Cole and that other bloke who scored hundreds of goals. They weren’t WC strikers but had great providers.
Dwight Yorke? Both pretty good players but you’re right, not world class.
You forgot the goalkeeper =world class.
Giroud is world class.
Ahem
I, for one, did not see this coming.
Me neither. I was sure it would be Chris Samba, but there goes Wenger, signing a player we’d never heard of.
How tall is he?
Worlds first midget CB
he’s taller than Alan Sugar
I’m expecting Hangeland to sign any day now
Frey is in London for a medical!
Bet you didnt see this coming
https://mobile.twitter.com/JimWhite/status/770703850328195073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Hahah
Somebody thumbed this down seriously?
Twitter isn’t everyone’s cup of tea mate…including mine, but I didn’t thumb you down! 🙂
It’s not really mine either, it popped up on the sky sports transfer news right before our Mustafi announcement.
Ironically since we signed a player who can actually defend
I was impressed when they managed to con PSG out of 50m for David Luiz … now allegedly they are trying to buy him back for 30m …
You managed to have a whole conversation almost entirely with yourself. I’m not even mad.
lol sorry …
Jah Gunners jah
Behind every Coq is a Shkrodan.
So, did we save any money by waiting until today to finalize this deal? Was it 34M four weeks ago and we talked them down 2M? Would that be worth not having him in the squad for the first few fixtures?
I think we know the answers to each of those questions. Here’s hoping he can get comfortable playing with Kos quickly.
Fact is, we don’t know – and we’ll never know.
I for one am glad we don’t pay ridiculous prices. Well, as fans we do.. :0
But, very pleased we secured these guys!
When you say “we don’t pay ridiculous prices,” surely you don’t mean Arsenal’s membership fees and match ticket prices, right?
Oh ffs stop your whingeing!!
What’s up doc? 😉
Maybe it wasn’t the greatest of looking deals from the public perspective, but I can’t help but feel that’s all water under the bridge, now!
Genuinely exciting, how complete this season’s squad is. Almost makes me worry that the injury gods have something especially insidious in store for us this year, knock on wood.
This is the post of a supporter who would complain about buying Messi (should have gotten him years ago, before his tattoos).
So he’s already Ozil’s good mate and he’s also got Albanian routes as has Xhaka.
I sense a new bro-love triangle brewing. Flamini who?
Flamini who is about to save the world for everyone. Actually!
🙂
Is that you Mesut?
I’m Italian and won my fantasy football league with Mustafi at heart of the defense two years ago. He was a complete unknown Sampdoria defender, had an incredible season with the squad and was selected in Germany’s national team as the replacement for the injured Reus. He won the World Cup and obviously became one of my idols… I can’t believe now he signed for us! COYG!
THIS: is very good 🙂
That photo is a Photoshop – see Xhaka picture here…
http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/67/590x/Granit-Xhaka-Arsenal-Transfer-News-673673.jpg
Well spotted
I don’t think Arseblog can afford to get photographers along every time to be fair…
The worst kept transfer secret of the summer. Now I can stop refreshing the site every 10 minutes.
Welcome to the Arsenal Mustafi! May the injury gods look upon you with pity
Three years at Everton? Am I right in saying that classifies him as homegrown?
Doesn’t look like it. He was at Everton from May 2009 to January 2012, that is, less than 3 years.
Amazing! I didn’t even know we were in for him.
Feeling more confident for the season now, welcome to Arsenal Mustafi ! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Finally!
Well done wenger
this man has no eyebrows.
He’s headed them off, in defence and attack, don’t worry it’s all good!
Wenger out! Oh wait… these signings are amazing. Wenger in!
Well done Wenger! Now get one more outfield striker in on deadline day to replace out on loan Campbell just to sock Mourinho and confirm you mean business this season.
Would you be happy with Sturridge? It seems he’s the only available striker of fairly good quality… unless we can unearth another gem.
And we should also get a CB/RB and CDM to replace Chambers and Alex Song respectively.
I’m a bit surprised that so many people are surprised that we spent nearly 100 mio. We did that in 2014 too for Alexis, Welbeck, Chambers, Debuchy & Ospina. This whole Arsene is afraid to spend nonsense is mostly made up by the press and the Arsenal fan tv guys. But he always tried to spend it as wisely as possible. Other than a di Maria deal, or a Depay (the next Messi) deal or so many others who have cost millions and completely flopped. Arsene had some flops too. But they have mostly cost us a few millions, if… Read more »
Good comment, man. I agree with everything you said.
People forget that these flops are costly, and our club has it’s values. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stand up for what we feel is right. That’s one of the great things about this club, in general we try to do everything the right way. On and off the field.
Anyone who thinks this is a “panic buy” (read media pundits) better get their heads checked. 1) The transfer window is always tricky and clearly never entirely in anyone’s control unless you are willing to pay silly money (See Stones 47m vs Holding or for the matter Mustafi) Firstly we have to wait till the Euros are over. The sort of Granit deal we made is a tribute to work put forth before the market but also a reflection on player and selling club’s sentiment. Not all clubs will be that easy. 2) Secondly we needed to ride out the… Read more »
47m for untried Stones versus 35m for an experienced world cup winner/International
Who’s the panic buy?
😀
Never in doubt. Not sure what all the hysteria was about. Wenger has done very well this window. 1) Granit – a top player still only 23yrs but coming into prim, captain (leadership) of his club, and at 35m EARLY in window a great capture the media would prefer to ignore. 2) Holding – Considering the 2m we paid and 47m for another English product, a excellent buy. 3) Mustafi – Again plenty of upside at 24yrs but with excellent experience, also a captain for his team. Contrast with 47m spent for the English player. 4) Perez – The dark… Read more »
Welcome to The Arsenal, Shkodran! We’re forming our own little German contingent here besides British, Spanish and French (among others).
Can’t wait to see our guys in action again. Damn you, Interlull!
Just when we were getting some momentum going. Can’t wait for Southampton!