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Despite denials by the Philadelphia Union of a transfer, or even discussions with foreign clubs, Carlos Valdes will go on loan to Santa Fe, according to multiple reports out of Colombia.
After Colombian reports pegged Valdes' potential loan at three months or six months, the actual temporary transfer will entail a playing time of one year with Santa Fe, per Antena 2. The Colombian news outlet also revealed that Valdes' loan included a purchase option, which would allow Santa Fe to buy his rights from the Union at some point during the loan.
The Union's captain spent two years at Santa Fe before going on loan to Philadelphia. The Major League Soccer club exercised a purchase option in his contract in 2011, gaining his full contractual rights.
Per MLS and Union policies, the terms of Valdes' transfer to the Union were not disclosed. Additionally, any transfer information of Valdes to Santa Fe, beyond the time table, will also not be available due to the same policies.
The 27-year-old was named an MLS All-Star last year and played against English Premier League giants Chelsea, who had beaten Bayern Munich to win the European Champions League only two months beforehand. Valdes took over as captain after Faryd Mondragon went to Deportivo Cali, also in Colombia, and Danny Califf was traded to Chivas USA last year.
Valdes played in, and started, 65 regular season games in two seasons for the Union, scoring three goals and assisting on one more. He also started both of the team's only playoff games in franchise history.