Cillessen’s first day at the Ciudad Deportiva

Jasper Cillessen is a goalkeeper in a hurry to get started at Valencia CF. Originally set to have his first day at the club on July 15th, having participated in the final of the UEFA Nations League with the Netherlands, instead he wanted to get things underway this week. His Tuesday involved a presentation, medical, press conference and tour of the Ciudad Deportiva.

The Dutchman arrived at the training facility in Paterna at 9am, where he underwent the customary preseason medical examinations alongside some of his new teammates. Cillessen was able to meet the likes of Geoffrey Kondogbia, Kevin Gameiro, Mouctar Diakhaby, Francis Coquelin, Cristiano Piccini, Jeison Murillo, Gabriel Paulista, Jorge Sáenz, Joaquín Blázquez and Koba Koindredi, as well as club employees and members of the coaching staff. Of the players, only Murillo -with whom he had played at FC Barcelona in the second half of the 2018/19 season- was a familiar face.

The shot stopper, who admitted to VCF Media that he feels more comfortable out on the pitch than in the testing lab, then headed to the media centre at Mestalla to give his first press conference as a Valencia CF player.

Accompanying him was club president Anil Murthy, who praised Cillessen’s commitment to the cause, saying: " We at Valencia CF want players who are fully convinced about forming part of our project. Some, like Jasper, received offers from other clubs that were superior economically, but which could not provide a project with Champions League football or that would allow him to grow like our project. He is so keen to start working with us, that he decided to bring forward his arrival. We want players like this, who are committed to their work, in order to help Valencia CF keep growing.”

A video of some of Cillessen’s best saves were shown during the presentation, demonstrating the quality of the new signing. Afterwards, he posed for photos with fans and shared a few moments with children participating in the VCF Summer Campus.

The goalkeeper will take part in his first day of training on Wednesday, with a double session at the Ciudad Deportiva.