The ‘leaked image’ has since been removed – but it is still being shared online (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal’s £17m deal to sign Valencia star Cristhian Mosquera appears to be official after a ‘leaked’ Getty Images photo went viral on social media.
The Gunners announced on Friday that Noni Madueke had officially joined the club in a £50m move from Chelsea, with a statement on their website.
Following the announcement, a series of photos of Madueke were uploaded to Getty Images – a visual media company – which supplies stock images and editorial photography for both businesses and consumers.
But one of the photos – which has been widely circulated online – appears to show Mosquera in an Arsenal kit giving an interview, despite the transfer move not being official yet.
‘Mosquera’s interview accidentally uploaded’
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‘As others have pointed out, Cristhian Mosquera’s Arsenal interview was accidentally uploaded with Madueke’s photos on Getty Images,’ @cdavison_afc said on X.
‘Leaked image of Cristian Mosquera’s Arsenal interview on Getty Images,’ @afcstuff added.
The ‘leaked image’ of Cristhian Mosquera has gone viral on social media (Picture: X)
‘Someone’s getting fired,’ @sirswoop12 posted on Reddit. ‘Looks like a good signing though.’
Metro saw the ‘leaked image’ of Mosquera on Friday – but it has since been removed from Getty. It’s currently unclear how or why it was uploaded.
Arsenal look set to officially announce the signing of Mosquera following the alleged leak, the Daily Express have reported.
Valencia CF v Real Madrid CF - La Liga EA Sports
Arsenal look set to officially announce the signing of Cristhian Mosquera (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal will reportedly pay €20m (£17.3m) to sign the 21-year-old from La Liga side Valencia.
The Spain U21 international is set to become a back-up option for first-choice defenders William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
The centre-back will essentially replace Jakub Kiwior in Arsenal’s squad, with the Gunners reported to be open to offers for the Poland international.
Mosquera has already waved an emotional goodbye to Valencia ahead of his expected switch to the Emirates.
‘Valencia is my home and it always will be,’ Mosquera said.
‘I arrived when I was 12, and now I’m leaving as a grown man, a little sad because you’ve been here your whole life, but decisions in football are like that. Now a new era begins.’
Quizzed about his departure, he added: ‘I prefer the club to talk first, and then whatever happens, it will happen. It’s exciting, but it’s also sad.’
Mosquera has played a total of 90 games for his boyhood club Valencia to date.
While he primarily plays in the centre of defence, Mosquera can also be deployed as a right-back.
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