| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Diego Gabriel Valdez Samudio | ||
| Date of birth | (1993-11-14) 14 November 1993 (age 30) | ||
| Place of birth | Paraguay | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2012 | Rubio Ñu | ||
| 2012–2013 | Herreros Bueno | ||
| 2013–2016 | Deportivo Capiatá | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2019 | Sportivo San Lorenzo | 16 | (1) |
| 2019–2021 | Atlético San Luis | 3 | (1) |
| 2020–2021 | → Sol de América (loan) | 51 | (11) |
| 2022 | Guaraní | 11 | (0) |
| 2023 | Guaireña | 18 | (3) |
| 2023–2024 | Neftchi | 23 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019– | Paraguay | 1 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 July 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 April 2019 | |||
Diego Gabriel Valdez Samudio (born 14 November 1993), known as Mudo Valdez (Spanish, the mute), is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder, most recently for Neftchi PFK.[1]
Valdez spent his early career in the lower leagues of Paraguay with Rubio Ñu, Herreros Bueno, and Deportivo Capiatá before moving to Sportivo San Lorenzo in 2016.[2] He made his professional debut with Sportivo San Lorenzo in a 1-0 Paraguayan Primera División win over Club River Plate on 22 January 2019.
On 28 August 2023, Azerbaijan Premier League club Neftçi announced the signing of Valdez to a one-year contract with the option of a second.[3] On 24 July 2024, Neftçi announced the departure of Valdez after the option on his contract wasn't taken up.[4]
Valdez made his debut for the Paraguay national football team in a friendly 1–0 loss to Peru on 22 March 2019.
Valdez received the nickname "El Mudo" (Spanish for mute) from his coach, Xavi Roura, for how quiet Valdez was.[5][6]
