Luciano Valente has officially joined Feyenoord. Following a preliminary agreement between the Rotterdam club and Groningen, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder has signed a four-year contract valid until June 30, 2029. The signing ceremony took place on Monday afternoon at De Kuip, Feyenoord`s home stadium, marking a dream come true for Valente.
`Finally, it`s official,` Valente stated with clear enthusiasm. `For me and my family, there was always only one option once Feyenoord showed interest. I wanted to come here. It took a little while, but I am incredibly happy that it has finally happened. When I watched Feyenoord from afar, I saw them as a big family. When I came here wearing the Groningen shirt, I had no idea what to expect at De Kuip. I am truly looking forward to playing for these fans.`
Valente expressed his eagerness to begin his new chapter:
`It`s almost a shame that I still have to go on holiday because I can`t wait to start and be useful to the team. I`m particularly looking forward to the Champions League qualification matches. I hope to create some wonderful memories together with my teammates.`
Born and raised in Groningen with Italian roots, Valente began his football journey at local club GVAV-Rapiditas. His talent quickly caught the eye of FC Groningen, who integrated him into their Academy. The young midfielder developed rapidly, becoming a key player for the team. He made his Eredivisie debut in 2022 at the age of 18 in a match against Ajax. During his time with Groningen, Valente experienced both relegation from the Eredivisie and immediate promotion back to the top flight.
His consistent performance did not go unnoticed. After being a standout player last season, Valente chose to represent the Netherlands internationally, having previously played for Italy at youth levels. He reached the semi-finals of the U21 European Championship before being eliminated by the eventual champions, England. Valente will wear the number 40 shirt for Feyenoord, a number he personally requested.
