MIDDLESBROUGH have completed the signing of former Barcelona and Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
The former Spain international, 34, joins on a two-year deal.
Victor Valdes has joined Middlesbrough more than a year after his last Premier League performance
Valdes wrote on Twitter: “Very Proud to be part of Middlesbrough.
“A new challenge for me from today!”
Valdes has not played a senior Premier League game since May 2015 after he was frozen out at Old Trafford under former manager Louis van Gaal.
The Dutchman had accused Valdes of refusing to play for the club’s reserve – something Valdes denied – and he was frozen out of the first-team.
The Spaniard had a short spell at Standard Liege in the Belgian league last season, playing eight matches.
Still, the goalkeeper brings a wealth of experience to the Riverside Stadium after a trophy-laden spell at the Nou Camp.
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Valdes was No 1 at Barcelona for more than 11 years, racking up more than 500 appearances alongside stars such as Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Xavi and, of course, Lionel Messi.
Valdes won six La Liga titles with the club as well as the Copa del Rey twice, the Club World Cup twice and the Champions League three times.
He also won 20 caps for Spain and was part of a victorious squad at Euro 2012.
Head coach Aitor Karanka told the Middlesbrough website: “You can’t imagine how delighted I am because it’s not usual to bring players like him to recently promoted teams.
“I’m really pleased because he is really committed. All the the conversations we’ve had he knows why he is here and he is coming to add to what we have.
"He knows how strong this group is. It's a privilege for us to be able to bring a player like this to the club."
Valdes is the Middlesbrough's fifth signing of the summer.
Viktor Fischer, Bernardo Espinosa, Marten de Roon, and Jordan McGhee have already joined.
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