According to Spanish media outlet Super Deporte, FC Valencia struggled this summer to move players deemed surplus to requirements, with Rafa remaining at the club and Almeida loaned out in the final hours of the transfer window.

FC Valencia faces a persistent transfer market paradox: when buyers are ready to pay transfer fees for the club's most valuable players, significant sales are possible; but when the club needs to find takers for players whose stock has fallen, whose wages are too high for other teams, or who simply don't fit the manager's plans, problems arise. Currently, there are many such players in the squad.

The recently closed transfer window provided fresh examples.

The most obvious case is Rafa Mir. FC Valencia informed Mir months ago that he was not part of coach Corbearán's plans. Mir knew this since January. When summer planning began, both Mir and Bartol Fresneda were listed as players for whom the club sought solutions, yet Mir ultimately stayed.

Mir remains at FC Valencia under contract until June 2027. His La Liga salary significantly limited interest from Segunda División clubs, and various options explored over the summer failed to materialize. Despite interest from several teams, no formal offer satisfied the player. As a result, Corbearán's squad still includes a player FC Valencia wanted to offload throughout the transfer window. With Almeida's departure and no other attacking reinforcements beyond Javi Gómez, Mir could get another chance from the bench until Umar Sadiq or Diego López return from injury.

Almeida: Departed at the last minute

The Almeida deal highlights the difficulties FC Valencia faces moving certain players and reflects the club's own operational approach.

The Portuguese midfielder was also not in Corbearán's plans after his performances fell short of expectations. While the club negotiated his future, Almeida was excluded from the squad for the match against Deportivo. Swansea was an option but was rejected by the player, who preferred to stay in Spain; Celta was also considered. Neither path worked out, and Almeida departed only in the final hours of the transfer window.

The Portuguese midfielder ultimately joined Racing Santander on loan until June 2027, without a purchase option included. This deal helped FC Valencia free up salary space. Owner Ron Gerlaar later confirmed that Almeida's departure enabled the transfer of Javi Gómez to FC Valencia.

FC Valencia signed Almeida in 2022 for €8 million from Vitória de Guimarães. Four years later, a player no longer part of the sporting project could only be loaned to a newly promoted team. Racing Santander had previously generated €20 million from player sales and reinvested those funds in reinforcements, signing four former Valencia players: Almeida, Agirrezabala, Facundo González, and Sergio Canales.

FC Valencia will sell players... when the market allows

This problem is not new. Experience from recent years shows that FC Valencia has no difficulty generating revenue as long as players have a market. In other words, sales are easier to complete when potential buyers make formal offers. This is a serious issue for the team's short-, medium-, and long-term development.

In summer 2020, Ferran Torres left for €33.5 million, Rodrigo for €30 million, Kóndo Gbia for €16 million, Coquelin for €7.1 million, and Dani Parejo also departed. This marked the beginning of owner Meriton's significant reduction in sporting investment and wage spending after the team qualified for the Champions League and won the Copa del Rey. The club made no new signings, severely decimating new manager Javi Gracia's squad. The Navarran coach even threatened to resign, citing breach of contract by Meriton, and demanded substantial compensation.

Two years later, a similar situation repeated. Gonçalo Guedes moved to Wolves for €32.6 million, and Carlos Soler joined Paris Saint-Germain for €18 million. That season, FC Valencia generated €54.6 million from player sales. The following summer, Yunus Musah joined AC Milan for €21.2 million, with total departure revenue reaching €28.9 million. In summer 2024, FC Valencia received €30 million from Mamardashvili's transfer, a significant buffer at the time, though the goalkeeper was subsequently loaned back for the season.

Recently, for the 2024–25 season, the club again generated over €26 million in revenue. Market analysis shows that Cristhian Mosquera's €15 million transfer to Arsenal was the most significant deal; Yarick also brought in nearly €10 million. This means Valencia's problem is not an inability to sell talented players, but an inability to move players deemed surplus to requirements.

This season, the club made the surprising decision to retain talented players. Javi Gómez was widely considered a potential sale, yet the midfielder will remain at Mestalla at least until the next transfer window, which will be Ron Gerlaar's fourth under his ownership.

Contract terminations, loans, and expiring deals

When players are the right age, performing well, and attract interest, buyers will emerge; when players lose their place and FC Valencia signals they're surplus, the club's negotiating position weakens. Valencia often fails to take the initiative in negotiations, compounding the problem.

This summer, Bartol Fresneda was a typical example. When FC Valencia signed him in August 2023, they paid no upfront fee to Rennes but structured the deal around performance-based bonuses, with a contract through 2027. Less than 12 months later, after Fresneda made 22 official appearances, an agreement was reached to terminate the remaining year of his contract.

Cenk Özkacar ultimately left permanently. After failing to establish himself at Mestalla, the defender was repeatedly loaned out and finally joined Trabzonspor this summer. Elia Güçlü's contract expired on June 30 this year after previous loan spells and a strong finish to last season. Thierry Correia also ended his Valencia contract and subsequently signed with Venezia.

These deals vary in structure but share one common thread: FC Valencia generates minimal resources from players they want to move. Umar Sadiq's injury, Almeida's departure, and Diego López's return delayed until January could have changed Mir's short-term prospects. But the fact remains that Mir was not part of Corbearán's original plans, and Gerlaar failed to move him.

Dani Danjuma's situation differs. He can play as both a striker and winger, so he still gets playing time under Corbearán. Though there was interest from clubs, no formal offer emerged that Valencia could accept, and the club failed to find a buyer.

For FC Valencia, constrained by Financial Fair Play regulations, managing departures is about more than reducing squad size. Every freed roster spot and euro of available wage space creates room for new signings. After the transfer window closed, Gerlaar acknowledged the club had nearly exhausted its Financial Fair Play ceiling. He also noted that Almeida's departure enabled the Javi Gómez deal to proceed. However, had the owner wished, the club could have pushed that limit further.

Spots that could open at season's end

Since FC Valencia struggles to move unwanted players, contract expirations become crucial. Cristian Rivero, the long-serving third goalkeeper, holds a contract through 2027. Defenders Diakhaby, Foulquier, and captain Gayà are also waiting for the club to decide whether their contracts will be renewed.

Other players with expiring contracts include the aforementioned Mir, Canos (injured and out of favor, unregistered this season), and Luis Rioja.

Übersetzt von KI.

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