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Right-back: Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
Joao Cancelo came through the ranks at Benfica, and just when he was on the cusp of breaking into the senior team in 2014, Valencia swooped in with a lucrative loan offer, which he duly agreed to and continued his development in the Spanish top flight.
Despite a stop-start debut campaign, where he made just ten appearances in the league, Valencia signed him permanently. Over the next two seasons, the Portuguese international made the right-back spot his own.
However, a few error-prone displays in the 2016-17 season prompted the end of Joao Cancelo's time at the Mestalla, where he made 91 appearances and scored 13 goals.
Two successful years later in Serie A with Inter Milan and Juventus, where he featured in the competition's team of the year on both occasions, Cancelo is now hitting his strides under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Centre-back: Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal)
Now somewhat of an estranged figure at Arsenal, Shkodran Mustafi has fallen out of favour at the Emirates, making just 17 appearances in the league since the start of last season. His knee problems haven't helped his cause either.
However, not long ago, Mustafi was a highly sought-after defender in Europe for his performances with Valencia, where he enjoyed two impressive campaigns after arriving from Sampdoria in 2014.
Settling in at Valencia instantly, he forged a stoic partnership with Nicolas Otamendi in his first season at the club. Even though the Argentine left for Manchester City the next year, Mustafi continued to hold his own.
Still only 28, Skhodran Mustafi has time to resurrect his faltering career. Some reports even suggest that Barcelona and Valencia could be interested in bringing the star back to the Spanish top flight.
Centre-back: Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica)
The only one-season player in this list, Nicolas Otamendi was an absolute beast at Valencia during the 2014-15 season, guiding the side back to the Champions League with his defensive nous and leadership qualities.
Signed from Porto for €12 million, the Argentinian international also became the first centre-back in the club's history to score six goals in a La Liga season. Most of these goals came from set-piece situations, with his top-notch performances also earning him a place in the league's best XI of the season.
Otamendi joined Manchester City later that summer, and after five trophy-laden years at the club, he moved to Benfica in August this year.
Left-back: Jordi Alba (FC Barcelona)
Originally a left-winger, Jordi Alba was played at the left-back position by Unai Emery at Valencia during the 2009-10 season, the player's first at the club, due to several injury concerns in defence. And suffice to say, the Spaniard acclimatised to his new role superbly.
Alba went on to grow in that position by leaps and bounds over the next two seasons.
Following his superb performances with Spain at Euro 2012, Alba joined his hometown club Barcelona, where he established himself as one of the greatest full-backs in La Liga history.
