Arnau Martínez is a new player for Valencia Club de Fútbol. The defender, arriving from Girona, signed a contract on Thursday that ties him to the club until 2031.
Aged 23, Martínez arrives at Mestalla after establishing himself as one of Spanish football's most promising full-backs. His signing represents a significant reinforcement for the defence led by Carlos Corberán in a season of clear ambition. The player brings experience from 121 La Liga appearances and five in the Champions League, plus two campaigns in the second tier.
Presentation at Mestalla
During his official presentation, the Catalan footballer made his determination clear from the outset. "I only wanted to come here," stated Arnau Martínez. "Ever since the club's name came up, I wanted to come here and we have shown that."
He also revealed he held talks with the manager and president Ron Gourlay about the project. "The manager called me, he conveyed what he was going to give to me and what I could give to the team," he explained. "I like the projection this club has and I am very excited."
Defensive versatility
One of his greatest assets is adaptability. Trained as a centre-back in Barcelona's youth academy, he was released from La Masía as a youngster. After a spell at Hospitalet, he settled at Girona, where his versatility became a key asset.
"I feel comfortable on the pitch," Martínez said when asked about his ideal position. "I can play as a third centre-back, as a wing-back, as a centre-back in a back four, also as a central midfielder." This flexibility offers Corberán multiple tactical options for the defence, an area fans can follow closely on the squad page.
His La Liga debut, curiously, was at Mestalla during the 2022-23 season with Girona. Now he returns to wear the home shirt, which he describes as "a huge dream". The player expressed his desire to bid farewell to the historic stadium with joy, in reference to the future move to Nou Mestalla.
His stated objective is collective. "We must face the objective together," he noted. "This is the most important thing and what must guide us all."
With his addition, Valencia bolsters a defence seeking greater solidity and depth for the demanding fixture list this season. Arnau Martínez, under a contract valid for the next five years, begins his Valencia chapter with the clear intention of becoming an immediate key figure.
