Updated at 18.02
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SPANISH STRIKER ROBERTO Soldado has joined Villarreal from Tottenham Hotspur on a three-year deal, both clubs confirmed on Friday.
“Villarreal CF and Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement for the transfer of Spanish striker Roberto Soldado, who will wear the yellow shirt for the next three seasons,” Villarreal said in a statement on their website.
Soldado joined Spurs two years ago from Valencia for a then club record £26 million ($40.6 million) as Spurs invested heavily to compensate for the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid.
However, the 30-year-old failed to recreate his prolific La Liga form in England as he scored just seven times in 52 Premier League appearances.
“These two years have been difficult for me, but I wouldn’t change this experience for nothing in the world. I am sorry for not being able to meet the expectations that Tottenham had put on me,” Soldado wrote on his Twitter account.
“Now for a new adventure. I am full of excitement and I am going to work hard to give the fans plenty to cheer about.”
Soldado has a far better record in his homeland where he has scored 131 goals in spells at Real Madrid, Osasuna, Getafe and Valencia as well as scoring seven times in 12 caps for Spain.
He becomes Villarreal’s third high-profile signing of the summer after the double capture of Samuel Castillejo and Samuel Garcia from Malaga.
