Valencia bring free agent Keita back to Spain

UEFA Europa League contenders Valencia CF have snapped up experienced midfielder Seydou Keita who arrives at the Liga side as a free agent.

The 34-year-old former UEFA Champions League winner with FC Barcelona recently finished a stint in China with Dalian Aerbin FC and has agreed terms at Mestalla until the end of the season. The deal includes the option of an extension through the 2014/15 campaign.

"I'm happy to be back in Spain," the Mali international said after landing on the country's east coast. "I spent five years here and it's fantastic to be returning to play in the Liga. Valencia are a great team and a side who were always difficult to play against."

Keita began his career at Olympique de Marseille before joining FC Lorient where he won the French Cup in 2002. He spent the following five seasons at RC Lens – scoring 19 goals in 156 league games – before moving to Spain with Sevilla FC. After a successful campaign in Andalusia, the Bamako native secured a €14m switch to Barcelona where he won three Liga titles, two UEFA Champions Leagues, two FIFA Club World Cups and two UEFA Super Cups.

Keita links up with fellow newcomers, Chile forward Eduardo Vargas and December coaching appointment Juan Antonio Pizzi, at a Valencia outfit who face FC Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Europa League round of 32.