Valencia CF has reached an agreement to terminate the contract of French midfielder Baptiste Santamaría, the club announced in an official statement on Monday. The 31-year-old departs the Spanish side one year after his arrival to join Greek club PAOK, following a payment of compensation from the Mestalla-based entity to facilitate the move.
Santamaría departs Valencia for PAOK
Baptiste Santamaría traveled to Thessaloniki, Greece, on Sunday afternoon to finalize his transfer to PAOK. According to the club’s announcement, the move follows a mutual agreement for contractual disengagement. This ends a brief tenure in Spain that began in the summer of 2025, when the midfielder arrived from Ligue 1 experience with Stade Rennes and OGC Nice.
The French midfielder signed a two-year deal upon his arrival, but the agreement was cut short after a single season. Valencia officials thanked the player for his “professionalism” and wished him success in his future endeavors in the statement released Monday.
A decline in playing time at Mestalla
Santamaría’s impact on the pitch diminished rapidly during his stay. He made 22 official appearances across LaLiga and the Copa del Rey, with his sole goal coming in the fifth matchday of the season against Athletic Club.
Data from the season shows a sharp drop in the midfielder’s involvement. Between the third and eighth matchdays—spanning August to October—Santamaría started six consecutive games. He added one more start in November, but he did not return to the starting eleven after that period.
His final appearance for the club occurred in February during the derby against Levante, where he played only the final two minutes of the match. He did not record any further minutes for the first team following that substitution.
Career trajectory and the move to Greece
At 31, Santamaría moves to Greece. His career has been marked by stints with Stade Rennes and OGC Nice before the attempt to establish himself in the Spanish top flight. The move to PAOK allows the player to regain a consistent starting role, which had eluded him during the latter half of his time in Valencia.
For Valencia, the departure clears a spot in the squad and reduces the wage bill, though the club had to provide a compensation payment to finalize the exit. This transaction allows both parties to move forward before the expiration of the original two-year contract.
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