VALERO returned to his former club Real Mallorca on a season's loan in August 2009.

The La Liga side also have an option to buy the 24-year-old central midfielder on a permanent basis.

He became Albion's record transfer when he completed a £4.7million move from Real Mallorca in August 2008.

The 23-year-old playmaker penned a four-year contract, plus a further year's option in the club's favour.

The transfer eclipsed the £3.5m Albion paid Cardiff for Robert Earnshaw, who joined in August 2004.

Valero showed some impressive skills during his first season in England but found it difficult to get to grips with the physical nature of the Barclays Premier League.

By the end of the campaign he had added some steel to his undoubted technical ability.

Baggies fans first got a glimpse of Valero when he impressed as a 59th-minute substitute in Mallorca's 1-1 pre-season draw at The Hawthorns prior to the 2008/09 campaign.

Valero signed for Mallorca from Real Madrid in summer 2007 and scored four times in 35 La Liga games to help them finish seventh.

He came through the ranks at the Bernabeu and played under now-England boss Fabio Capello.

His chances were limited at the Spanish giants but he boasts Champions League experience and played alongside David Beckham in a draw with Dynamo Kiev in December 2006.

The 5ft9in ace also earned nine caps for Spain Under-17s and was part of his country's Under-19s European Championship-winning squad in 2004.

(UPDATED SEPTEMBER 4, 2009)