ABU DHABI // Al Wahda have confirmed on their website the signing of Jorge Valdivia on a two-year contract for a club record transfer fee of €6 million (Dh24.3m).
According to a member of the club’s board, the former Al Ain playmaker will receive €500,000 a year to supplement his annual salary of €2.5m a year.
The only loose end to tie up is with the 31-year-old Chile midfielder’s contract with Palmeiras, which expires on August 17, but Wahda are in talks with the Brazilian club hoping they will release him early from his commitments.
“Al Wahda confirms that Chilean star Jorge Valdivia has signed a contract for the length of two years,” the club statement read.
“The player is under contract with Brazilian club Palmeiras until August 17, and Al Wahda and Valdivia are seeking to bring the player in before this date to join the team’s preparations for the new season.”
Valdivia played a key role as Chile won the Copa America on home soil last week defeating Argentina 4-1 in a penalty shootout in the final in Santiago.
The player is no stranger to the UAE having played for Al Ain for two seasons from 2008 to 2010.
There was confusion over Valdivia’s proposed move to Fujairah last summer, when the Arabian Gulf League club said they had signed him after he visited the club and posed with a club scarf. The deal was never consummated.
Also set to arrive this weekend is former Arsenal midfielder Denilson, who is expected to join his new club on Saturday.
The Brazilian signed from Sao Paulo for €3m signed a three-year deal with an annual salary of €1.8m, according to the club’s website.
Valdivia and Denilson complete Wahda’s foreign quartet with the Argentine Sebastian Tagliabue retained from last season along with the Kuwait centre-back Hussain Fadhel, who was given a one-year extension at the end of last season.
Wahda’s bid for the former Al Ain defender Musallem Fayez from neighbours Al Jazira was been turned down.
apasella@thenational.ae
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