Ben Arfa Joins Real Valladolid On Short-Term Deal
Hatem Ben Arfa has marked his return to football by signing a six-month contract with Spanish La Liga side Real Valladolid.
The 32-year-old has been without a club since leaving Ligue 1 side Rennes at the end of the 2018/2019 season.
Valladolid will be Ben Arfa’s eighth professional club, having also turned out for the likes of Olympique Lyon, Olympique Marseille, Newcastle United, Hull City, Nice and Paris Saint Germain.
Valladolid, who are co-owned by Brazil legend Ronaldo, lie 16th on the La Liga table, five points above the relegation zone and Ben Arfa will be tasked with helping them avoid the drop.
A statement on Valladolid’s official website read: “Hatem Ben Arfa is a new Real Valladolid player until the end of this season. The French attacker signed his contract on Tuesday as a new Blanquivioleta player and on Wednesday he will join the work under Sergio González.”
“Ben Arfa, without a team since last summer ended his relationship with Rennes, accumulates a remarkable career in the football landscape. He has been an absolute international fifteen times with France and has developed his career in the Gallic country and England, with 388 official matches and 73 goals in Lyon, Olympique de Marseille, Newcastle, Hull City, Nice, Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes.”
“Ben Arfa will be presented to the media this Tuesday at 12.30 pm in the press room of the José Zorrilla Stadium.”
Ben Arfa could be available to make his debut for Valladolid in La Liga on Saturday against Real Mallorca.
Ben Arfa has been capped 15 times by the French national team, scoring two goals.
