Spanish media: Valencia's clear-out blocked, Rafa Mir stays and Almeida leaves on loan

According to Spanish media outlet Superdeporte, Valencia found it difficult this summer to clear out players who were not in the club's plans, with Raba staying and Almeida leaving on loan at the final stage of the transfer window.

Valencia have faced the same contradiction in the transfer market for years: when buyers are willing to pay transfer fees for highly valued players in the squad, the club can complete important sales; but when the club needs to find solutions for players whose sporting status has declined, whose wages are too high for other teams, or who are simply not part of the coach's plans, problems emerge. There are currently several such players in the squad.

The recently closed transfer window provided more examples.

The clearest example is Dani Raba. Valencia informed Raba months ago that he was not part of coach Corberan's sporting plans. Raba already knew this situation in January. When summer planning began, Raba and Baptiste Santamaria were both listed as players the club hoped to find solutions for, but Raba ultimately did not leave.

Raba remains in Valencia's squad, with his contract running until June 2027. His La Liga-level salary significantly reduced the options from Segunda Division clubs, and the various possibilities explored during the summer did not materialize. Although clubs showed interest, no formal offer satisfied the player. As a result, Corberan's squad still contains a player Valencia wanted to move on throughout almost the entire window. Almeida's departure and the lack of attacking reinforcements apart from Elliott could give Raba another chance from the bench until Umar Sadiq or Diego Lopez return.

Andre Almeida: a departure only at the last moment.

Andre Almeida's deal fully illustrates the difficulties Valencia face when trying to move on certain players, and it also reflects the club's own operating methods.

The Portuguese player was also not in Corberan's plans because his performances had not met expectations. While the club discussed his future, Almeida was left out of the squad for the match against Deportivo La Coruna. Swansea was an option, but the player rejected it because he preferred to remain in Spain; Celta were also considered an alternative. Neither route solved the problem, and Almeida only left in the final hours of the transfer window.

The Portuguese midfielder eventually joined Racing Santander on loan until June 2027, with no purchase option included in the agreement. The deal helped Valencia free up wage space. Ron Gourlay later explained that Almeida's departure created the conditions for Harvey Elliott to join Valencia.

Valencia signed Almeida from Vitoria Guimaraes in 2022, paying €8 million. Four years later, the player who was no longer part of the sporting plans could only be loaned to a promoted side. Racing Santander had previously earned €20 million through player sales and invested the money in recruitment, while also signing four former Valencia players: Almeida, Aguirrezabala, Faku Gonzalez and Sergio Canales.

Valencia will sell players... if the market provides the opportunity.

This issue is not new. The experience of recent years shows that Valencia have no difficulty generating income as long as players have a market. In other words, when potential buyers arrive with formal offers, the club can complete sales more easily. This is a serious problem for the team's short-, medium- and long-term development.

In the summer of 2020, Ferran Torres left for €33.5 million, Rodrigo Moreno was transferred for €30 million, Kondogbia for €16 million, Coquelin for €7.1 million, and Dani Parejo also departed. This was the starting point of Meriton's major cuts to sporting investment and wages after the team qualified for the Champions League and won the Copa del Rey. The club made no signings, leaving newly appointed coach Javi Gracia with a significantly weakened squad. The Navarre-born coach considered resigning after feeling misled by Meriton, and the club also demanded a large termination fee from him.

Two years later, a similar situation occurred again. Goncalo Guedes joined Wolves for €32.6 million, while Carlos Soler moved to Paris Saint-Germain for €18 million. That season, Valencia earned €54.6 million from player departures. The following summer, Yunus Musah joined AC Milan for €21.2 million, bringing total departure income to €28.9 million. In summer 2024, Valencia received €30 million from Mamardashvili's transfer, an important financial buffer at the time, although the player then remained on loan for one more season.

Recently, in the 2025/26 season, the club again earned more than €26 million. According to market records, Cristian Mosquera's €15 million move to Arsenal was the biggest deal, while Yarek also brought in close to €10 million. In other words, Valencia's problem is not failing to sell talented players, but failing to sell players who are not in the plans.

This season, the club unexpectedly decided not to sell talented players. Javi Guerra had been widely expected to be the main sale target, but the midfielder will remain at Mestalla at least until the next transfer window, which will be the fourth window during Ron Gourlay's tenure.

Terminations, loans, and reaching the end of contracts.

When a player is at the right age, performing well and attracting interest, buyers appear; when a player loses his place and Valencia signal to the market that he is no longer needed, the club's negotiating power decreases. Valencia often cannot control negotiations, making the issue even more difficult.

This summer, Baptiste Santamaria was a typical example. When Valencia signed him in August 2025, they did not pay Rennes a fixed transfer fee but agreed to complete the deal through a series of bonus clauses, with a contract until 2027. Less than 12 months later, after Santamaria made 22 official appearances for the team, the two sides agreed to terminate the remaining year of his contract.

Cenk Ozkacar finally left permanently. After failing to prove he was suitable for Mestalla, the defender had been repeatedly loaned out before joining Trabzonspor permanently this summer. Eray Comert's contract expired on June 30 this year; he had also spent previous seasons on loan and left a good impression during the final months of last season. Thierry Rendall also ended his contract with Valencia and later signed for Venezia.

These deals were different, but they shared one thing: Valencia could hardly obtain resources from the players they wanted to move on. Umar Sadiq's injury, Almeida's departure and Diego Lopez not returning until January could have changed Raba's short-term prospects. But the fact remains that Raba was initially not in Corberan's plans, and Gourlay was unable to move him on.

Danjuma's situation is different. He can play both as a striker and as a winger, so he can still receive playing time under Corberan. However, although clubs were interested in him, there was no formal offer Valencia could accept, and the club also failed to find him a new destination.

For Valencia, who are restricted by financial fair play rules, completing departures is not simply about reducing squad numbers. Every released spot and every available euro in wages creates more room for strengthening the team. Gourlay admitted after the window closed that the club had nearly reached the financial fair play limit. He also explained that Almeida's departure was what allowed the Harvey Elliott deal to move forward. However, if the owners were willing, the club could have raised that limit further.

Potentially available squad places at the end of the season.

Because Valencia struggle to move on players outside their plans, contract expirations become important. Long-serving third goalkeeper Cristian Rivero's contract expires in 2027. Defenders Diakhaby and Foulquier, as well as captain Gaya, are also waiting for the club's decision on renewals.

Other players whose contracts are approaching expiration include the previously mentioned Raba, Canos, who is injured, has long been out of the plans and will not receive a registration place this season, and Luis Rioja.