OFFICIAL: Arsenal Star Completes January Move To Valencia
REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Valencia have confirmed the signing of Francis Coquelin from Arsenal for a period of 4-and-a-half years, in a transfer that is reported to have cost the La Liga club £12 million.
The most staggering feature of his new contract is the eye-catching £71.2 million buyout clause.
Sky Sports reported that the 26-year-old had rejected interest from West Ham United and Crystal Palace, and sought the move to Spain instead.
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The Frenchman had been a part of the Gunners’ outfit for 10 years, but was dropped this season, and was able to muster only 7 appearances in all competitions.
During his tenure at the London side, he was loaned off to Lorient, Freiburg, and Charlton, but was able to make a proper run from 2014. He won two FA Cups with the side, in 2015 and 2017.
At Valencia, Coquelin will be hoping to aid the club’s efforts at making life hard for Real Madrid and Barcelona, and continuing their knack for being an unignorable emerging side in European football.
Speaking on the club’s official site following the switch, the midfielder stated: “I have seen the team, they are going along very well, they are third in the table.
“I have watched their recent games, since I knew that the negotiations between the two clubs were picking up, such as the Copa del Rey game versus Las Palmas. They were very good.
“I believe that the players are doing a great job. Obviously, I am here to help the team and to help them hit their targets.”
Written by Naveen Kelvin 
A writer trying to craft the poetry within football. Purpose in life is to Make Good Art.