Valencia speeds up the departure of one of its worst signings

Baptiste Santamaría is finding it increasingly difficult to remain a Valencia CF player. The French midfielder is not in Carlos Corberán's plans, he is being targeted for a move, and interest from PAOK is opening up a path that is being carefully considered at Mestalla.

The situation is not new, but it has gained importance in recent days. The player, 31 years old, is under contract until 2027, but the club believes that his time is up after a season well below expectations and with little prominence in LaLiga.

Baptiste Santamaría has no place at Valencia CF

Valencia CF signed him last summer in a deal close to 2 million euros, a reasonable figure at that time to strengthen the midfield. However, his performance has not justified the investment, and now the priority is to free up salary space or recoup part of the outlay.

At Mestalla, they are looking for around 1 million euros to cover the remaining amortization, while the proposal from Greece involves a loan without a transfer fee and with the interested club covering the player's salary. This formula eases the wage bill but does not entirely satisfy the Valencia entity.

Baptiste Santamaría has known since January that his chances are minimal. The arrival of Aliou Dieng and the signing of Guido Rodríguez have left him with no real space in a squad that needs to reduce numbers before making further moves.

PAOK presses, but the player is still hesitant

PAOK has reached out to the player's representatives, seeing an attractive opportunity to strengthen their midfield with his experience. The Frenchman has experience in various leagues, is familiar with the European competitive pace, and could fit into a team looking for strength, balance, and expertise in the midfield.

However, the Greek destination does not entirely convince the player. At 31 years old, Baptiste Santamaría wants to feel important again but also aims to make the right choice for his next move after a challenging season.

Therefore, the decision is not final. The club is pushing, PAOK is active, and the player is weighing whether to accept a move that would provide him with playing time but also mean switching leagues after a difficult experience in Spain.

LaLiga lost sight of Santamaría

His statistical decline reflects his situation. In LaLiga, the midfielder accumulated 743 minutes, scoring 1 goal with 1 assist, but in all of 2026, he barely played 82 minutes. In the Copa del Rey, he played 272 minutes with another assist, yet failed to regain the coach's trust.

His highlight was against Athletic, with a goal and assist, but that performance was not sustained. A red card in the Copa, with the match almost over in Cartagena, sealed a door that was already slightly open.

Subsequently, the Frenchman lost his place in matchday squads and had no defined role. Carlos Corberán gradually excluded him from rotation, and the club understood that his presence would only complicate a planning process that requires swift decisions and clear exits.

Thus, the future for Baptiste Santamaría seems distant from Mestalla. Valencia CF is looking to resolve the situation; LaLiga no longer appears to be his likely stage, and the route to PAOK could be the solution if the player decides to take the step.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Valencia acelera la salida de uno de sus peores fichajes