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Middlesbrough sign former Barcelona star Victor Valdes on a two-year deal

Middlesborough have signed World Cup-winning goalkeeper Victor Valdes on a two-year contract.

Valdes, 34, left Barcelona in 2014 after making 535 appearances for the club and eventually signed for Manchester United in January 2015.

However, he failed to impress at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal and eventually joined Standard Liege on loan a year later in January 2016.

But Valdes' stay at the Belgian club was cut short in April as they wanted to give their young players more playing time and he was left to run out the rest of his Manchester United contract.

The Spain international has since departed the North West club and joined the newly promoted Middlesbrough, signing a deal until 2018.

"You can't imagine how delighted I am because it's not usual to bring players like him to recently promoted teams," Middlesborough manager Aitor Karanka told the club's official website.

"I'm really pleased because he is really committed. All the the conversations we've had he knows why he is here and he is coming to add to what we have.

"He knows how strong this group is. It's a privilege for us to be able to bring a player like this to the club."

Middlesbrough start their 2016-17 Premier League campaign at home to Stoke City on Aug. 13.