Spanish side Valencia have completed the signing of French midfielder Francis Coquelin from Arsenal. An official announcement on the website of the La Liga side confirmed the arrival of 26-year-old with a fee in the region of £12m thought to have been agreed.
Coquelin’s decade long stay at the Emirates has eventually come to an end, with the tough tackling midfielder unable to recapture his form in the past seasons that once made him an undroppable fixture in Arsene Wenger’s strongest eleven.
With Granit Xhaha, Aaron Ramsey and a resurgent Jack Wilshere ahead of him in the pecking order, the Frenchman has finally come to the conclusion that a move away is the best option in his quest for regular first team action.
With a place in France squad for 2018 world cup a key motivating factor behind the move, Coquelin will look to play his way into Coach Deschamps good books.
The midfielder arrived Valencia in the early hours of Thursday aboard a chartered private plane and on touching down, proceeded to the Estadio Mestalla where he underwent a medical in the early hours of the morning before appending his signature to a four and half years contract.
In the statement announcing his arrival a club spokesman wrote: “Valencia CF have agreed a deal this Thursday with Arsenal regarding the transfer of Francis Coquelin, who will wear the black and white colours of the club during a deal that will run until June 30th 2022, with a buy-out clause of €80 million.
“The player will be presented to the media at 17:15CET, at the club’s Media Center at Paterna.”
Coquelin joined Arsenal’s academy at 17 in 2008 and made 105 Premier League appearances for the Gunners.
He signed a new deal at Arsenal a year ago but Arsene Wenger confirmed on Wednesday evening that the player was leaving in search of first-team football.
He started four of Arsenal’s Europa League games this season but has made just seven Premier League appearances and only one as a starter.
Coquelin completed his first training session as a Valencia player on Thursday and could make his debut in Saturday’s game at Deportivo La Coruna.
He is Valencia’s second reinforcement in the winter transfer window following the arrival of Argentina striker Luciano Vietto on loan from Atletico Madrid.
Valencia, coached by Marcelino, are third in La Liga, 11 points adrift of league leaders Barcelona.