Valencia and Levante chase midfielder Jefferson Lerma as Aguirre arrives

At Valencia airport, 31‑year‑old Colombian international Jefferson Lerma was spotted as the city buzzed with the arrival of new coach Javier Aguirre. The midfielder, currently with Crystal Palace, has attracted keen interest from Valencia and from his former club Levante as the LaLiga side rebuilds.

Valencia's winter target

Valencia confirmed the dismissal of Carlos Corberán on 13 September after the team had gathered just fifteen points. Javier Aguirre was appointed on 23 September and will be presented on 28 September at Mestalla. The Mexican takes over a penultimate side that has earned four points from seven matches, leaving a clear need for a defensive pivot.

Aguirre’s profile matches Lerma’s attributes – a defensive midfielder with a high work rate, strong in duels and able to drop into the back line. Valencia’s winter transfer list now lists the Colombian as a priority, while Levante, the club that first brought him to LaLiga, has also signalled intent to re‑sign him.

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Lerma's career and past links

Lerma has logged more than 430 professional matches and remains a fixture in the Colombia national team. He previously amassed 93 official appearances for Levante, scoring three goals and helping the club achieve promotion in the 2016‑17 season. Crystal Palace activated a unilateral clause to extend his contract by a year, preventing a free‑transfer exit.

During his time at Selhurst Park, Lerma added an FA Cup, a 2025 Community Shield and a 2026 Conference League to his honours. By June he had recorded 121 matches, 12 goals and seven assists, and his contract now runs until the end of the 2026‑27 season, meaning any move must be negotiated with the English side.

With the Spanish transfer window closed, the first opportunity for Valencia or Levante to register Lerma will be the January winter window. Para the clubs, securing the experienced midfielder could provide an immediate boost to a squad that Aguirre inherits low in the table.