Villarreal lure Llorente from Valladolid

Villarreal CF have made their second signing in four days by paying Real Valladolid CF an undisclosed fee for striker Joseba Llorente.

Impressive return
The 28-year-old caught the eye by scoring 16 goals in 36 appearances for 15th-placed finishers Valladolid and his reward is a four-year contract with the Primera División runners-up. The Basque forward joins Edmílson at El Madrigal following the Brazilian's arrival on a free transfer from FC Barcelona last week.

Learning curve
Llorente learned his trade as a youth-teamer with Real Sociedad de Fútbol before breaking into the senior ranks at SD Eibar. His 17 goals in 38 Segunda División games in 2004/05 brought a transfer to Valladolid where a further 29 league strikes over two seasons helped the club back into Spain's élite. Llorente then enhanced his goalscoring reputation in the top-flight campaign just ended. "I'm leaving Valladolid having made great friends and with so much affection for the fans," he said. "These three years have meant the world to me. I've grown as a footballer and as a person."