Enner Valencia nearing move to Argentine club Talleres, reuniting with coach Sampaoli

Veteran Ecuadorian striker Enner Valencia is on the verge of joining Argentine club Talleres de Córdoba, according to reports from Argentine football journalist Germán García Grova. The 36-year-old forward is currently a free agent after his contract with Mexican club Pachuca concluded.

If the transfer materializes, it would mark Valencia's first foray into the Argentine league. The move also signifies a reunion with coach Jorge Sampaoli, who played a pivotal role in launching Valencia's professional career. Sampaoli promoted Valencia to the Emelec first team in 2010, where they worked together for 36 matches across domestic and international competitions.

During their time at Emelec, Valencia showed early promise, scoring two goals and providing four assists under Sampaoli's guidance. This period helped establish him as one of Ecuador's most promising attacking talents.

Valencia brings a wealth of experience to Talleres. He has accumulated 750 professional matches, scoring 245 goals and assisting 79. His most prolific spell was with Fenerbahçe, where he netted 59 goals in 116 appearances between 2021 and 2023. He has also played for clubs including Tigres, West Ham United, Everton, and Internacional de Porto Alegre. For the Ecuadorian national team, Valencia is the all-time leading scorer with 49 goals in 109 matches, having retired from international duty after the 2026 World Cup.