Massive buyout clause inserted in Coquelin’s Valencia deal
Francis Coquelin has completed a move to La Liga side Valencia on a four-and-a-half-year contract following a decade with Arsenal, the Spanish club announced on Thursday.
Coquelin, 26, arrived at Arsenal from French side Laval in 2008 and went on to make 160 first-team appearances, but he has left for a reported fee of €12million.
Valencia have also revealed Coquelin will have an €80million buyout clause written into his contract.
The combative midfielder spent several loan spells away from the Gunners before establishing himself as an integral part of a Arsene Wenger side which won the FA Cup in both 2015 and 2017.
📝 Comunicado oficial | Francis Coquelin https://t.co/qEzkuwYMUH
— Valencia CF (@valenciacf) January 11, 2018
Coquelin, who is yet to make a senior appearance for the France national team, will be presented by Valencia at 16:15 UK time this afternoon.
His deal at the Mestalla runs until the end of June 2022 and contains a buy-out clause of 80 million euros (£71million), Valencia revealed on their official website.
The Frenchman is reported to have cost Marcelino’s Los Che – currently third in LaLiga – £12million after making only seven Premier League starts for the Gunners this season.
Speaking after the goalless draw at Chelsea on Wednesday night, Arsenal boss Wenger said: “He goes to Valencia. He didn’t get enough games with us this season.
“He had an opportunity. I let him go.”