Arsenal have completed the signing of Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia for £35 million, tying the German defender to a five-year contract.
It's been tough going for Arsene Wenger so far this season. He saw his side dismantled by Liverpool in the Premier League opener, he's had fans chant "Wenger out" during games, and he's been widely criticized for the lack of big-name signings. Granit Xhaka arrived early in the summer, but since then, only young Rob Holding and Takuma Asano (now loaned to Stuttgart) have been added to the team, much to the chagrin of Arsenal fans. But after weeks of tabloid rumors Wenger finally landed his marquee center back, and Mustafi's the perfect man to help Arsenal make a legitimate push for glory this year.
At just 24 years old, Mustafi's already incredibly well-traveled, having played for Everton, Sampdoria and Valencia. A World Cup winner with Germany in 2014, Mustafi knows what it takes to win at the highest level, and he brings a winning mentality to an Arsenal side distinctly lacking in mental fortitude.
Strong, athletic and versatile, Mustafi is most comfortable in the center of defense, but has shown his ability to play as a fullback for his national side and occasionally at the club level. He's comfortable on the ball and intelligent with his distribution, so Mustafi should fit right in with Arsenal's possession-based style of play. A tough tackler with no fear of putting his body in dangerous situations, he's a disciplined player that reads the game well, and he should dovetail well with Laurent Koscielny, providing cover when the Frenchman steps forward to win the ball higher up the pitch.
Mustafi was rumored to be available for £21m earlier in the summer, but at £35m, it's still a good deal for Arsenal. They get a top class defender who helps them immediately and he hasn't even hit his prime yet. Alongside Koscielny, Arsenal could potentially have their center back pairing for the next 5+ years.
Grade: A
Mustafi fits a direct need, he doesn't completely break the bank, and did I mention he fits a direct need? While not quite in the upper echelon of truly "world class" defenders, he's still a fantastic defender who's still developing, and his qualities make him a perfect fit for the Premier League. If he can form a solid partnership with Koscielny, he could well be one of the signings of the season in England.
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