Highlights of the 2025 General Shareholders’ Meeting

The shareholders of Valencia CF have approved by majority the main items on the agenda submitted to the 2025 General Shareholders’ Meeting, which was held this Wednesday, December 17, at first call.

Among the items approved today were the Annual Accounts, the Company and Consolidated Group Management Report, the management of the Board of Directors, and the proposal for the application of the results for the financial year. In addition, the reappointment of Ernst & Young SL as the auditor of the Company and its consolidated group for the 2025–26 financial year were approved.

FIND OUT BELOW THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STATEMENTS

NOU MESTALLA

• Kiat Lim: “Renovate the Camp de Mestalla to stay there? That is something that should have been done in 2005 or 2006, before the decision was made to move to a new stadium. Today it would be extremely difficult. We have complete confidence that the Nou Mestalla project will be a success at every level.”

MANAGEMENT

• Kiat Lim: “I know there have been many questions, thank you very much. We want to do things constructively. I understand your frustration; you have the right to shout, but that is not the way, honestly. I am a person who does what has to be done; I do my job with Ron Gourlay, with Javier Solís… We are trying to gather feedback, but with sessions like this, with these kinds of reactions, it seems difficult. Everyone has the right to their own opinion. I don’t take any of this personally. You don’t have to support me, but I would like to ask you to support the team, the players, and Carlos Corberán. We will continue doing our job in the best possible way.”
• Kiat Lim: “Goldman Sachs will not be the ones making the decisions.”

SPORTING AREA

• Kiat Lim: “I agree with you. The result is bad and I understand that everyone is frustrated, but that said, of course the situation affects us. I have heard all your opinions and I want to give mine looking toward the future. We talk frequently; we need something more structural from bottom to top. We have seen others spend a lot of money and change coaches, and the result has not been positive. We are looking for something sustainable, not just one transfer window, but something that lasts and consolidates the sporting structure. In short, we want sustainability, strong foundations, and just thinking about the next transfer window is not enough. It has to be a sustainable project and we want greater strength. We want to do things constructively. You don’t have to support me; I’m not looking for applause. I want your support for the team, the players, and Corberán.”
• Ron Gourlay:
   “I have listened to many questions. I have heard talk of promises, lies, lack of respect. I have been in football for 40 years. I am 64 years old and I have experienced everything. I like hearing that Valencia CF was the best team in the world. I know what it feels like and what the expectations are when you are part of a big club. As a football man, you have to look at things with perspective. I have been here five months, not five years. There is no one who is not trying to do the best for this club. The most important thing is integrity.

SPORTING AREA

• Kiat Lim: “I agree with you. The result is bad and I understand that everyone is frustrated, but that said, of course the situation affects us. I have heard all your opinions and I want to give mine looking toward the future. We talk frequently; we need something more structural from bottom to top. We have seen others spend a lot of money and change coaches, and the result has not been positive. We are looking for something sustainable, not just one transfer window, but something that lasts and consolidates the sporting structure. In short, we want sustainability, strong foundations, and just thinking about the next transfer window is not enough. It has to be a sustainable project and we want greater strength. We want to do things constructively. You don’t have to support me; I’m not looking for applause. I want your support for the team, the players, and Corberán.”
• Ron Gourlay:
   “I have listened to many questions. I have heard talk of promises, lies, lack of respect. I have been in football for 40 years. I am 64 years old and I have experienced everything. I like hearing that Valencia CF was the best team in the world. I know what it feels like and what the expectations are when you are part of a big club. As a football man, you have to look at things with perspective. I have been here five months, not five years. There is no one who is not trying to do the best for this club. The most important thing is integrity.

I came for four reasons: the greatness of the club—it is a sleeping giant—and this cannot be rebuilt in just one transfer window. I respect everyone. I understand your frustration. When I was at Chelsea FC and we won the Champions League, the most difficult place to play was here. I did not come with the intention of failing.

If you think we can compete with the biggest clubs, we cannot do so without the Nou Mestalla; football requires commercial revenue. You can only work within Financial Fair Play and with the Nou Mestalla. Football has to drive the business, but there are no magic wands. Corberán did a great job last season. There are very good people here, but it is a difficult moment and all clubs go through this. We have to be united.

People will say they have heard this before, but not from someone with 40 years of experience. This club will move forward. I listen to the fans and I have learned. The fans are what make the club’s heart beat, and we have to build for the future.

We talk about selling young players. Three of them have signed new contracts; the first thing I did was that. The player who did not want to renew was because he did not want to be here. I do not lie. Integrity, yes; experience, yes; lies, never. I am very honest and emotional.

We have something very big on our hands. We have sold players and used the investment for the future: the VCF Academy. We have promoted four or five players to support the first team. Miguel Ángel Angulo is trying to do the best possible job with VCF Mestalla, but there is a process because many players are coming through. There is a strategy, a plan. To reach the Champions League you have to work. There were transitions in the summer to support the club and maximize performance, but this transition requires two or three transfer windows.

The Nou Mestalla will generate the revenue to take us to another level and a lot of work is being done on it. The goal is to improve the team’s performance in every match. This will not be easy; there will be setbacks. The key is that when you are on a difficult path, you also have to embrace it. I know it is painful, but we have to be positive. The fans play a fundamental role. There is no magic wand. I am aware of the frustration, but we must always try to move forward.

The recovery will take more than one season to get to where we want to be. I cannot look back; I cannot change the past. I take responsibility and I am willing to sit down with whoever is necessary and explain the plan. We need quality. I want to move forward with the team. We all want that.

I can only look ahead and, ultimately, as on other occasions in my career, I will be judged by the results on the pitch, and I accept that. We have to sign well and be smart. We use Data Intelligence and we have incorporated a new sporting structure; we will also have important scouts for Spanish territory. This will allow us to identify more players. Yes, there is a plan. We have to be very smart in the market and closely follow young players; developing the academy is essential.

OTHER TOPICS

• Germán Cabrera: “Regarding an independent director, we have already stated that it is a complex issue, with significant legal shortcomings, which has generated controversy. It has a hybrid role as a representative of the fan base and as a director. The problem is that there must be implementing regulations, which do not yet exist. The electoral process and the legal status are complex. The position adopted by the league association was not to make decisions until there is regulatory development by the government.”

• Javier Solís: “As for the lawsuit against Netflix, it had two paths. One was through Sports Justice, which we took all the way to Arbitration. It was one of the fastest rulings in history because they issued a final decision denying us the injunction. After that, we went to Administrative Litigation and exhausted all avenues there without obtaining the desired result. We filed a lawsuit against Netflix and the Brazilian production company for damage to honor, falsehoods, etc., which is progressing, and in fact they have opened the door to seeking an out-of-court settlement and, shortly, we will have good news. I can assure you that the Club defended its supporters. One way or another, there will be a favorable resolution for us.”