Pablo Maffeo has joined Valencia on a two-year loan.

Valencia CF have officially announced that they have reached an agreement with Olympiacos to formally acquire Spanish right-back Pablo Maffeo on loan. The 29-year-old Maffeo, born in San Juan despi, Spain, will be on loan for one season. According to the agreement, Valencia has an option to buy; if they decide to complete the permanent transfer after the loan period, the two sides will sign a two-year contract.

Pablo Maffeo ended his five-season spell at Mallorca this summer before moving to Greece to join Olympiacos. Now, the Spanish right-back has returned to familiar Spanish football, joining Valencia on loan. The club hopes to leverage his speed, running ability, and extensive experience to further enhance their attacking and defensive capabilities on the right flank, while also adding depth to the squad.

Maffeo's professional career began in Espanyol's youth academy before moving to England at the age of 15 to join Manchester City's youth system. After several years of development, he made his first-team debut for Manchester City in 2016. Since then, the right-back has played for clubs such as Stuttgart, Huesca, Mallorca, and Olympiacos, gradually accumulating extensive professional experience. To date, he has made 294 official appearances.

During his time at Mallorca, Pablo Maffeo gradually established himself as a key player in the team's defense, thanks to his consistent performances. After a five-year stint at Mallorca, he moved to Olympiacos in Greece this summer. Now, Pablo Maffeo embarks on a new journey, joining Valencia to begin a new phase of his career.

At the national team level, Pablo Maffeo was selected for various youth national teams in Spain in his early years, accumulating rich international playing experience. In 2023, he was also called up to the Argentine senior national team, participating in the World Cup South American qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil. However, due to not ultimately getting a chance to play, Pablo Maffeo has yet to make his official debut for the senior national team.

With Pablo Maffeo's official signing, Valencia welcomes a seasoned full-back to their right flank. His excellent speed, proactive forward runs, and years of experience in top-flight leagues will undoubtedly enhance Valencia's attacking and defensive capabilities on the flanks, providing the team with more tactical options.

Speaking about joining Valencia, Pablo Maffeo said, "Actually, I've wanted to come here for a long time. Over the years, I've spoken with some of my former and current teammates who have played for Valencia, and they've shared a lot about the club with me. So when this transfer was finally completed, I was very happy and I'm looking forward to what's to come."

“I know almost every one of my new teammates. Some of them have played against me on the field before, and some of them have played alongside me at other clubs. So when I came here, I quickly felt like I was coming home. My family is here, and I am very familiar with Valencia, which is one of the important reasons that made me choose to join. My daughter lives here now, and being able to be with her while continuing my football career is the happiest thing for me.”

“I am a very competitive player, and I will give my all in any match. Valencia is also a team full of fighting spirit, and I hope to bring that spirit into the team and get the support of the fans. I will give my all for this club and do my best to bring experience, team spirit and a strong desire to win.”  

Speaking about his conversation with head coach Carlos Coberlin, Pablo Maffeo said, "I spoke with the coach on the phone, and he made me feel his passion for his work, an attitude that resonates with me. I've heard a lot of positive things about him before, so I'm really looking forward to working with him. I want to thank him for giving me this opportunity and for his trust in me. He needs a player who is willing to give his all for the team, and that's exactly who I am."

"Actually, I'm a rather quiet person, quite different from how I am on the court. What I like most in my daily life is spending time with my partner, daughter, and dog , enjoying family time together. Besides that, I'm also very interested in boxing and martial arts, which are sports I enjoy participating in."

"Visiting Mestalla as the away team has never been easy. You know you're facing a tough game, and that's always been the case here. I hope that Mestalla can continue this tradition this season. We need to enjoy the game and also stick together in difficult times. I believe it will be a memorable season."

Speaking about the Valencia fans, Pablo Maffeo said: "I really love the fans here. They always want the team to do more, even in difficult times, and they push you forward. I think that pressure is very important for the players because it keeps you focused. They support the team not only when they are performing well, but they also stand behind the team when things get tough. The atmosphere is really exciting; you can clearly feel the power coming from the stands, and sometimes that power can even be the key to helping the team win the game."

“We will give our all in every game, and the fans are an integral part of the team, the club, and this history. I hope everyone can enjoy the process and let the fans' support be the driving force for us. We must show our best on the pitch, but more importantly, we must always stay united. As long as everyone works together, we will become stronger. I believe that as long as we are united, we will definitely achieve something to be proud of.”

Image source: Internet/Valencia official website