Benfica defender Miguel Monteiro has joined Valencia of Spain on a five-year contract, the Lisbon club said on Thursday.


The 25-year-old international, who cancelled an extension of his contract to 2008 with the Portuguese champions, will complete the move after medical tests.


Benfica did not reveal the transfer fee, which has been put €8 million ($9.78 million) in Portuguese media reports.


Valencia have undergone a major overhaul following their disappointing seventh-place finish last season, with former player Quique Sanchez Flores taking over from Antonio Lopez as coach and a host of top-class new players joining the club.


Miguel is the fifth newcomer after Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert, Brazilian midfielder Edu, Spain centre-forward David Villa and Uruguay winger Mario Regueiro.

finally, after all the fuss!!!