Unai Emery has signed Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo from Valencia in a deal said to be worth around €10m for both.

Arsenal sold Francis Coquelin to Valencia in 2018 for £12.6m, so, given how little he has been sold for, the club will not make any money through any sell-on fee.

The official Villarreal announcement said, “Villarreal CF have reached a transfer agreement with Valencia CF for footballer Francis Coquelin, who will play for the yellow club for the next four seasons.

“The official presentation of the French midfielder will be this Thursday, at 12.00, in the Preference Room of the Estadio de la Cerámica (access Door 31) in an event aimed exclusively at the media.

“Francis Joseph Coquelin (Laval, France, May 13, 1991 ) is a defensive midfielder who stands out for his position on the pitch, physical display and ability to intercept balls.

“The French footballer arrives from Valencia CF, where he has played for the last two and a half seasons. With the elastic che, he has played 89 games, in which he has scored a goal and has distributed three assists. Before coming to LaLiga, Coquelin defended the colors of Arsenal FC, Charlton Athletic, SC Freiburg and FC Lorient.

“The new footballer ‘groguet’ has a remarkable track record. He has lifted a Copa del Rey with Valencia and has also won two FA CUPs and two Community Shields wearing the ‘gunner’ jersey.”

Unai Emery was appointed as Villarreal’s manager last month after Javier Calleja stepped down. Going into the lockdown, Valencia’s form had not been good, prompting the club to speak to Emery. After the restart, however, results picked up and a late run saw them qualify for the Europa League. Calleja still left and Emery was appointed as his replacement.

With 160 appearances for Arsenal, Coquelin reached 89 for Valencia.

After their failure to make the Champions League, and a need to cut their budget to their Europa League cloth, José Luis Gayà, Carlos Soler and Gonçalo Guedes, two of whom have already been linked with Arsenal, are said to be the only players at the club who are ‘non-transferable’.

Coquelin has signed a four-year deal.