Valencia negotiates with Smalling

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Valencia Athletic Club

17/10/26 21:00:00

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Chris Smalling, a 36-year-old English center-back, is on Valencia's transfer market agenda to fill one of the available slots in the squad. The player has been free since July 1, 2026, after ending his contract with Al-Fayha, and Valencia is considering his incorporation, according to MARCA.

Valencia's Plans for Chris Smalling

Valencia's interest comes after the close of the summer transfer market, which ended on September 1 in LaLiga. The Valencia club still has room to use an available slot and is looking for alternatives to strengthen the defense.

Smalling's contract situation allows for exploring the operation without paying a transfer fee. The center-back ended his contract with Al-Fayha on June 30 and has been without a team since the next day, so his arrival would depend on a contractual agreement and Valencia's registration conditions.

The sporting context explains part of the movement. Valencia has suffered several defensive absences at the start of this season and recently had to deploy Pepelu at center-back alongside Iker Córdoba, while César Tárrega, Copete, and Diakhaby were sidelined due to physical issues.

Furthermore, the club had already identified the center-back position as a need for the upcoming winter transfer window. Cadena SER reported on September 18 that the sporting management was prioritizing that position and had limited room for new operations.

ValenciaCF wishes to take advantage of the available slot in the squad and is considering the signing of 36-year-old English center-back Chris Smalling, currently without a club after parting ways with Al-Fayha FC from Saudi Arabia, as reported by MARCA pic.twitter.com/BaqWziGA4C

— solofichajes123 (@solofichajes123) September 22, 2026

Chris Smalling's Stats at Al-Fayha

Smalling played 34 games in the Saudi Pro League in the 2025/26 season, with 2,992 minutes, 3 goals, and 1 assist according to FBref records. The defender started in 33 matches, indicating his competitive consistency before becoming a free agent.

His spell at Al-Fayha began in September 2024, coming from Roma. In two seasons with the Saudi team, he played 64 league games, scoring 4 goals and providing 1 assist.

The economic aspect is also relevant. Transfermarkt currently values Chris Smalling at 1 million euros, although this figure does not reflect a transfer fee as the player is currently without a contract.

The next step will be to determine if Valencia will formalize their interest with a proposal. The summer window is closed, but Smalling's status as a free agent since July allows the club to consider his incorporation within the current registration rules, with the available slot being a key element.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Valencia negocia con Smalling