ABU DHABI // Al Wahda have confirmed on their website the signing of Jorge Valdivia on a two-year contract for a club record transfer fee of €6 million (Dh24.3m).
According to a member of the club’s board, the former Al Ain playmaker will receive €500,000 a year to supplement his annual salary of €2.5m a year.
The only loose end to tie up is with the 31-year-old Chile midfielder’s contract with Palmeiras, which expires on August 17, but Wahda are in talks with the Brazilian club hoping they will release him early from his commitments.
“Al Wahda confirms that Chilean star Jorge Valdivia has signed a contract for the length of two years,” the club statement read.
“The player is under contract with Brazilian club Palmeiras until August 17, and Al Wahda and Valdivia are seeking to bring the player in before this date to join the team’s preparations for the new season.”
Valdivia played a key role as Chile won the Copa America on home soil last week defeating Argentina 4-1 in a penalty shootout in the final in Santiago.
The player is no stranger to the UAE having played for Al Ain for two seasons from 2008 to 2010.
There was confusion over Valdivia’s proposed move to Fujairah last summer, when the Arabian Gulf League club said they had signed him after he visited the club and posed with a club scarf. The deal was never consummated.
Also set to arrive this weekend is former Arsenal midfielder Denilson, who is expected to join his new club on Saturday.
The Brazilian signed from Sao Paulo for €3m signed a three-year deal with an annual salary of €1.8m, according to the club’s website.
Valdivia and Denilson complete Wahda’s foreign quartet with the Argentine Sebastian Tagliabue retained from last season along with the Kuwait centre-back Hussain Fadhel, who was given a one-year extension at the end of last season.
Wahda’s bid for the former Al Ain defender Musallem Fayez from neighbours Al Jazira was been turned down.
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Director: Kelsey Mann
Starring: Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri
Rating: 4.5/5
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Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
The years Ramadan fell in May
The five pillars of Islam
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Stage 5 results
1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 3:48:53
2 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team -
3 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott -
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:00:04
5 Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) CCC Team 0:00:07
General Classification:
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 20:35:04
2 Tadej Pogacar (SlO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:01
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 0:01:33
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:48
5 Rafał Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:02:11
