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"Having finished in third place in the Spanish La Liga championship, the club earned the right to play in the UEFA Champions League tournament next season and is now strengthening its squad. Team representatives announced that the club has acquired Ecuador national team defender Luis Antonio Valencia.
The 19-year-old player has signed a five-year contract with the Spanish team and is expected to be officially presented to the fans after a medical check-up, which should take place on June 20th.
It is believed that Villarreal paid 1.8 million euros (6.3 million litas) to Valencia's former club El Nacional for the player, who represented the Ecuador national team in the World Cup qualification matches last weekend.
"I hope I have chosen the right team," Valencia told the Spanish newspaper Marca. "Villarreal is a really strong club, one of the most powerful teams in Spain, so I am happy to represent them."
"I also believe that my transfer will help other young Ecuadorian footballers attract the attention of scouts from Spain and all of Europe."
