Maduro joins Valencia

Hedwiges Maduro has joined Valencia for a cut-price 2 million Euros from Ajax. The Dutch defender-cum-midfielder has been long linked with a move to one of the continent's big sides, but the lure of Ronald Koeman in charge has brought the Dutchman to La Liga.

The 22-year-old had stalled on signing a new contract with the Amsterdam club, amid talk of interest in him from both Spain and Italy and is reported to have penned a deal at the Mestalla running until the summer of 2012.

Maduro told his new club's official website: "I chose Valencia because they are a great club that can play great football and I was also very excited about the prospect of playing football in Spain.

"I am very happy to come to Valencia. It is something very significant in my career because Valencia is one of the most important clubs in Spain.

"Ronald Koeman is a great coach and we know each other already from the past at Ajax." Maduro also helped his country to glory at last summer's European Under-21s Championships on home soil.