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