Dorlan Pabón has signed a four-year contract with Valencia, the club announced on their website. The Colombian international arrives in Spain for a reported €7.5 million after playing just six games for Monterrey, and on the back of a successful loan spell at Real Betis.
Originally signed by Italian club Parma last summer, the lively forward struggled with personal problems and fell out of favour with coach Roberto Donadoni. The crociati agreed a deal to sell him to Monterrey at the end of a loan spell with Betis, which went rather better than expected. Pabón finally delivered on his potential, scoring eight goals in 17 league games at the verdiblancos,while playing as the central attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1.
His performances didn't go unnoticed, with Miroslav Đukić now swooping to bring Pabón immediately back to La Liga. Valencia finished fifth in the league last season, and have been looking to strengthen their forward line after losing Roberto Soldado to Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the summer. Pabón is their third attacking arrival of the window, following Levante's attacking midfielder Míchel and veteran striker Hélder Postiga from Real Zaragoza.
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