Jordi Francis Valadon (born 4 March 2003) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for A-League Men club Melbourne Victory.

Jordi Valadon
Jordi Valadon training for Melbourne Victory, November 2023
Personal information
Full name Jordi Francis Valadon[1]
Date of birth (2003-03-04) 4 March 2003 (age 21)[1]
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8+12 in)[2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Melbourne Victory
Number 14
Youth career
Box Hill United
Melbourne City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 Melbourne City NPL 46 (7)
2022–2023 Melbourne City 4 (0)
2023–2024 Melbourne Victory NPL 16 (5)
2023– Melbourne Victory 24 (1)
International career
2024– Australia U23 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 September 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 September 2024

Early life

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Raised in Melbourne, Victoria, Valadon played youth football for Box Hill United and Melbourne City.[3] He attended Mazenod College, located in Mulgrave, where he also played and captained the school football team.[3] Valadon grew up supporting Melbourne Victory.[3]

Club career

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Melbourne City

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After playing regularly in the academy, Valadon was registered into the National Premier Leagues and A-League Youth squads for Melbourne City Youth.[4][5] He finished with three goals and three assists for City in the 2022 National Premier Leagues Victoria 3 as his side achieved automatic promotion.[6]

Having registered an A-League bench appearance earlier on 29 January 2022,[1][5] Valadon made his professional debut in an AFC Champions League group clash against BG Pathum United on 15 April.[7] City contested a 1–1 draw at full-time in their first Champions League match of their history.[7]

Melbourne Victory

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Valadon joined Melbourne Victory early-2023 after holding discussions with Victory youth coach Joe Palatsides.[3] He made his first-team debut as a substitute in a 2–1 victory over Macarthur FC,[1][3] and then his starting debut six days later in a 1–0 defeat to Brisbane Roar on 29 April.[8] Following the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, Valadon signed his first professional contract – a two-year scholarship deal – with Victory on 5 July.[9] However, on 7 August, Valadon was ruled out with a hamstring injury from training and was expected to receive surgery on the following Thursday.[10]

Valadon played 15 matches during the Isuzu UTE A League 2023/24 season and started Melbourne Victory's grand final against Central Coast Mariners. The match ended in a 3-1 defeat for Melbourne Victory.

Honours

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Australia U23

Melbourne Victory

Melbourne Victory NPL

Melbourne City NPL

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "J. Valadon: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Jordi Valadon Stats and Ratings". Sofascore.
  3. ^ a b c d e "A-League dream becomes reality for Valadon". Melbourne Victory. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  4. ^ "City finalise 2019/20 Foxtel Y-League Squad". Melbourne City. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b "2022 NPL3 Season Preview". Melbourne City. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  6. ^ "NPL3 Season Review: Key moments, who stood out, what's next". Melbourne City. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Match Report: BG Pathum 1–1 City". Melbourne City. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Men's Match Report: Defeat to close out season for Victory". Melbourne Victory. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Melbourne Victory signs Jordi Valadon to the A-League Men's squad". Melbourne Victory. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Injury Update: Jordi Valadon". Melbourne Victory. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
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