Fernando Morientes' brief and uninspiring spell in English football ended last night when the Spaniard left Liverpool for Valencia in a deal worth around £3 million, less than half of the fee paid to Real Madrid to sign the striker only 16 months ago, writes Dominic Fifield.

Valencia beat off competition from Real Betis, Espanyol and the Turkish club Fenerbahce to sign the 30-year-old, who was omitted from Spain's squad for the World Cup finals after struggling for form and fitness at Anfield this season.

Morientes failed miserably to make a sustained impression on the Premiership and mustered only 12 goals in his 61 appearances for Rafael Benitez at Liverpool.