VALENCIA striker Salva Ballesta has signed a loan deal until the end of the season according to the Spanish club's website.

The reigning Spanish champions confirmed a deal had been agreed with a short statement published on their official website. "Valencia have reached an agreement with English Premier League club Bolton for the loan of the forward Salva Ballesta until 30 June," the statement said.

Ballesta has made just three appearances for the Spanish club during the current campaign and was not even on the bench in the 1-0 defeat of Sevilla.

But he has a good scoring record. He is in his second year at Valencia after joining them from Atletico Madrid where he scored 22 goals in 33 games.

He topped the league scoring charts in 2000 when his tally was 27 for Racing Santander.