Arsenal signing Shkodran Mustafi speaks out over frustrating transfer saga with Valencia

Shkodran Mustafi says his move from Valencia to Arsenal was the most turbulent of his career, a move that dragged on until the penultimate day of the summer transfer window.

The Gunners were initially linked with the Germany international in early August when Per Mertesacker suffered a knee injury that is expected to rule him out until the New Year. Mustafi's agent Ali Bulut confirmed during the first week of August there had been discussions between Arsenal and Valencia – but insisted no agreement had been met.

According to a number of sources, Arsenal's refusal to meet's Valencia's valuation of the player was one of the reasons for the delay. It emerged last week however that Arsene Wenger's side had finally agreed to pay a fee of £35m ($47m, €42m) with the move finally being confirmed by the club on Tuesday (30 August).

Mustafi has already played in four different countries having had spells at Everton and Sampdoria before joining Valencia, having emerged from Hamburg's youth set up in Germany. But the centre-half admits his latest move to north London was the most frustrating of his career to date.

"I already had a few transfers in my career," Mustafi told kicker, ESPN report. "But it has never been as turbulent as this. I told my ex-club early on that I wanted to continue my development at a club playing in Europe. But it took a long time until the clubs agreed on a transfer."

Mustafi revealed shortly after his arrival in north London he immediately sought advice from fellow Germany internationals Mesut Ozil and Mertesacker after hearing of Arsenal's interest.

"I did not see Per for a long time because he quit international football but I talked to Mesut," Mustafi told Sky Sports in Germany.

"He told me everything I wanted to know. Everything was positive, so I was convinced very fast. It did not take much."