Valencia have confirmed the signing of Barcelona defender Martin Montoya after the defender and Barcelona came to a mutual agreement to terminate the contract between them. The defender will be officially presented as a Valencia player on Tuesday.
A statement on the Valencia’s official website said: "Valencia CF and Martín Montoya have reached an agreement for the player to join the club on a four-year deal."Montoya came up through Barcelona's La Masia academy and debuted for the first team against Mallorca at the Iberostar Stadium."
After a successful medical, the Spanish defender agreed terms with Valencia on a contract that will keep him at the club until 2020.
The 25-year-old has been associated with Barcelona since he was just eight. After progressing through the ranks of the famed La Masia youth system, he was promoted to the Barcelona B team at the age of eighteen. Two years later he made his first appearance for the senior team.
The official Barcelona website published a statement that said: "Barcelona and the player Martin Montoya have reached an agreement for the rescission of the contract between the two parties. Barcelona wish the player much luck and new success in the next stage of his career."
The Spaniard made 66 appearances for the Barcelona senior team and scored two goals, but he was unable to cement a regular place for himself in the starting lineup.In his time with the Catalonian giants, Montoya managed to rack up quite a collection of silverware. He won three La Liga titles, two Copa Del Reys, a Spanish Super Cup as well as a UEFA Champions League at the Camp Nou.
The defender spent some time at the San Siro stadium with Inter Milan, where he was loaned out to by Barcelona in 2015. He also had a four-month long loan stint at Real Betis in 2016.
Last week Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez had said that Montoya could make a move to Valencia, but he was adamant that the possible move has no connection whatsoever with the transfer of Andre Gomes from Valencia to the Camp Nou.
Speaking at a news conference after Gomes had been presented as a Barcelona player, Fernandez said: "Andre Gomes move has nothing to do with any possible move of a Barca player to Valencia. "We are talking about two Barca players, who have offers from many teams."
