Valencia announced on their official website on Monday that the club have signed Argentina international defensive midfielder Guido Rodríguez from West Ham United.

According to Valencia's official statement, Rodríguez has signed on a short-term contract with the club which will only run until the end of the season, his contract will be automatically extended for a further year if the club successfully avoids relegation.

Furthermore, according to  Spanish online media outlet Relevo's resident renowned Italian transfer journalist for Matteo Moretto, the La Liga club paid West Ham United a transfer fee of €2.5 million to sign Rodríguez.

After completing his transfer, Rodríguez, who was interviewed by the Valencia official website for the first time, said: "I'm very happy to be here. My motivation is to join a demanding club, and I know Valencia is such a club with a long history. I'm here to add value and contribute to the club."

"I've always played in midfield. I try to maintain good organization to understand the game's flow and realize that every game is different. I also try to defend, support the center-backs, control possession, and ensure the team is proactive."

"I experienced this when I first arrived, and I've been closely watching the recent matches. I know what the fans are like here, how high their expectations are, and that's important so the team can respond on the pitch and we can move forward together."

“The fans are like another player on the field; you can feel their presence. I really love the atmosphere here; it's an inspiration for any footballer. I love stepping onto the pitch and hearing the fans' shouts, songs, and encouragement… it feels very special.”

“Thank you to the fans for their tremendous support before I even arrived in Valencia. What I will never lack is hard work and high standards for myself. I believe that I and the whole team will give our all and work together to finish this season in the best way possible.”

About Guido Rodriguez

The 31-year-old Rodríguez was born on April 12, 1994, in Sáenz Peña, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is 1.85 meters tall and he primarily plays as a defensive midfielder but can also play as a center midfield. He holds dual Argentine and Italian citizenship.

Rodríguez joined River Plate's youth academy at a young age and completed his River Plate first-team debut in a Copa Argentina match in October 2014.

During his two years with River Plate, despite Rodríguez rarely got playing time, he still helped the club win one Copa Sudamericana and one Copa Libertadores.

In January 2016, Rodríguez was loaned-out to Defensa y Justicia.

In July of the same year, Rodríguez joined Tijuana for $2 million.

In July 2017, Rodríguez moved to Club América for $7 million.

During his two-and-a-half-year spell with Las Águilas, Rodríguez helped the club win one Liga MX title and one Copa MX.

In January 2020, Rodríguez joined Real Betis for €4.5 million.

During his four-and-a-half-year spell with Los Verdiblancos, Rodríguez helped the club win the Copa del Rey once.

After his contract expired in the summer of 2024, Rodríguez joined West Ham United as a free agent.

During his 18-month stint with the Hammers, Rodríguez made 32 appearances for the Premier League club in all competitions, providing one assist.

Image source: Internet / Valencia official website