Javi Márquez completes Real Mallorca move

Real Mallorca have completed the signing of Espanyol midfielder Javi Márquez for €1.2 million plus Sergio Tejera. The 26-year-old has signed a four year deal with Los Bermellones, turning down interest from a host of other clubs including Valencia.

Márquez had established himself as a regular in the Espanyol team until an ankle injury forced him out of the team last season. Upon returning to full fitness, he failed to win back his first team place and so made clear of his intentions to not renew his contract which was to expire in 2013.

‘They have created high expectations with my signing,’ Márquez told the official website. ‘I am grateful to Mallorca for the confidence they have shown in me. I am very happy to be involved in this project and hopefully we can have some great years ahead of us. I will certainly put that effort in on the pitch. It’s a very serious project, and that’s one reason why I’m here.’

The midfielder can come through the ranks at Espanyol before joining up with the first team in 2009. The Catalan is technically sound, well organised and good with ball recovery. He is also known to like to shoot from long range, scoring 3 goals in his 3 years in the Espanyol first team.

Tejera’s departure comes after falling out of favour with Caparrós. The coach was unhappy with the former Chelsea player’s progress. The 22-year-old will now return to his home town club of Espanyol where he came through the youth system before joining Chelsea’s academy in 2006.