Valencia’s Shift Towards Experienced Players: A Strategic Change

In the year when Valencia, under owner Peter Lim, nearly faced relegation to the Segunda División during the 2022-23 season, the team was predominantly composed of inexperienced young players. This lack of seasoned professionals meant that the onus was on these young athletes to lead the team through challenging circumstances. Last season mirrored this scenario closely. However, following the conclusion of the winter transfer market this season, it is clear that there has been a strategic shift in the team’s composition.

Valencia has welcomed a number of ‘veterans’ to its ranks: Unai (29 years), Sadiq (29), and Guido Rodríguez (31) have all joined the squad. Historically, players in their thirties have presented a challenge for the club’s business model. At times, it has appeared that the focus of management was more financial than sporting, leading to decisions that failed to balance the needs of the team adequately. The reluctance to recruit older players was particularly evident following the radical transformation that took place in 2020, which aimed exclusively at nurturing young talent with market potential. This reliance on youth has, at times, highlighted the absence of experienced voices in the locker room during critical moments.

As of February 2026, Valencia boasts a significant number of players aged over 30: Dimitrievski (32), Foulquier (32), Gayá (30), Luis Rioja (32), Raba (30), Baptiste Santamaria (30), and now Guido Rodríguez (31) make up this group. Additionally, Diakhaby and Danjuma have both reached 29, joining the recent additions of Sadiq and Unai Núñez, who have also recently celebrated their 29th birthdays.

Currently, seven players exceed the age of 30, a notable shift in the club’s historical approach to squad composition. Last year, there were only four players in their thirties, three in the 2023-24 season (of which one, Paulista, departed mid-season), five in the 2022-23 season, and five in the 2021-22 season. This season marks the highest number of ‘veterans’ present in the squad.