Leeds break club transfer record to sign striker Rodrigo from Valencia

Leeds United have broken their transfer record in order to sign striker Rodrigo from Valencia. The Spain international has signed a four-year deal at Elland Road and will cost the Premier League newcomers £30m.

The 29-year-old, who has 22 caps for Spain, has previous Premier League experience having spent the 2010-11 season on loan at Bolton Wanderers. Rodrigo is the latest in a number of players to have left Valencia this summer after Dani Parejo, Francis Coquelin and Ferran Torres.

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“I’m really excited and very happy to join the club in this important season for all of us,” Rodrigo said. “It’s a new step in my career and I want to help the team to achieve the goals of the season. Leeds have been working for two weeks on this deal with Valencia, we knew Valencia have some problems now as we didn’t achieve the Champions League.

“Since the first time Victor (Orta, director of football) talked to me I knew I wanted this new challenge with Leeds. I will be working with one of the best coaches (Marcelo Bielsa) in football, he has done important things in different clubs and I’m excited to learn.”

Brazilian-born Rodrigo started his career at Real Madrid, before moving to Benfica. Last season he scored Valencia’s winner in a 1-0 Champions League victory Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.