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Valencia sign Maxi Gomez from Celta Vigo; Mina heads the other way

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Valencia reached an agreement with Celta Vigo to sign Uruguayan international Maxi Gomez, the two sides announced Sunday, with striker Santi Mina headed the other way in an apparent player-plus-cash deal.

Los Che agreed to pay €14.5 million for the promising 22-year-old, according to Spanish daily Marca.

Valencia avoided paying the player's full €50-million release clause by offering Mina as a makeweight in the negotiations. The 23-year-old striker was happy to return home to Vigo, where he grew up and spent his formative years as a footballer.

West Ham were reportedly prepared to pay Gomez's release clause in installments, but the player decided to stay in Spain.

He signed a five-year contract with Valencia, and his new release clause is now set at €140 million.

"It's really nice to be able to play in the Champions League," Gomez said in a statement. "I've never done that before, and from a young age I always dreamt of playing in the Champions League and La Liga."

Gomez recorded 31 goals and 10 assists in two seasons with Celta.

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