The future of Portuguese midfielder André Almeida at Valencia Club de Fútbol hangs in the balance with under two days until the transfer window closes. AS reported on Tuesday that the LaLiga club is willing to let the player leave, but only for a suitable offer, with Celta de Vigo currently only proposing a loan deal.
André Almeida, aged 28, is training with the squad in Paterna while his agent seeks a solution. Manager Carlos Corberán omitted him from the squad for the last match, a clear sign he is not part of the plans for the 2026-27 season. The player previously turned down an offer from Swansea City due to his wish to stay in Spain, where Celta has emerged as his preferred destination.
Why does Valencia want to sell Almeida?
Moving André Almeida on is a priority for Valencia's sporting direction. The club needs to free up a squad place and salary mass to be able to register new signings. Almeida is under contract until June 2027, so a sale would provide immediate funds. His situation echoes that of Dani Raba last season, a player who ended up with no minutes despite being in the first-team squad.
Valencia's squad, which you can view on our squad page, has several players in similar positions, making the Portuguese expendable. Corberán prefers other options for the midfield, such as Javi Guerra or a recent signing. Freeing up his wage would aid the club in a tight summer of business.
What is Celta de Vigo offering?
Negotiations are stuck on the structure of the deal. Celta, managed by Claudio Giráldez, wants to take Almeida on a straight loan without a mandatory purchase option. Valencia, however, demands a permanent sale or a loan with an automatically triggering buy clause under certain conditions. The financial gap between the two positions is substantial.
The Galician side is seeking a creative profile for its midfield and sees Almeida as an affordable solution. Their budget is limited, however, after other market moves. Time is against both clubs, with the deadline set for Wednesday at 23:59.
How does this affect Valencia's other market business?
The potential exit of Almeida is directly tied to other pending operations. Valencia has several deals in the pipeline and needs to finalise departures to make room for reinforcements requested by Corberán. Each day of delay complicates planning for the next league fixture.
The team's schedule is demanding, as seen on our fixtures page, with a derby against Villarreal scheduled for September 20th. Having the squad settled is vital for preparing for those matches. The uncertainty surrounding Almeida and other cases slows down the entire process.
What happens if there's no agreement by Wednesday?
If the window closes without a move, André Almeida will remain a Valencia Club de Fútbol player. In that scenario, he would face a very difficult season, training with the group but with no real prospect of playing. He would be a last-resort option for Corberán, a situation none of the parties wants.
The club has already told the player that finding a new project is best for his career. The window of opportunity is down to hours. His next official match could be with the reserve team, though his high salary makes that unviable long-term. Valencia travels to face Alavés on September 13th, according to the fixtures list.
