Valencia have completed the signing of defender Eliaquim Mangala from Manchester City on a two-year contract, the club have confirmed.
The defender has been quoted as saying by Diario AS that “I really wanted to return to Mestalla,” and he will form part of the Copa del Rey holder’s squad for next season.
The 28-year-old played for Los Che on a season-long loan deal during the 2016/17 campaign, making 33 appearances for the club before returning to England.
Valencia are said to be intent on securing a new central defender in the closing weeks of the window and have encountered difficulties in their attempts to sign Alaves defender Victor Laguardia, who was their ‘number one preference’ but whose price is said to have subsequently ‘skyrocketed’.
City are willing to accept a cut price deal or a loan exit for the defender who they signed from FC Porto for a reported €44m back in 2014.
He did not play a minute of first-team football last season after making just two appearances for Everton the previous campaign, with fitness issues and a lack of form curtailing his career.
