Valencia have signed fiery Portugal international right back Joao Pereira from Sporting, the Lisbon club said on Thursday.

Pereira is in Portugal's European Championship squad and has been a regular starter in defence since Bento took charge of the national team in 2010.

"Sporting reached an agreement with Valencia for the transfer of Joao Pereira for a set fee of 3.7 million euros ($4.66 million)and a variable fee of 526 thousand euros, depending on whether Valencia participates in the Champions League group phase or not," Sporting wrote in a statement published by Portuguese regulator CMVM.

Pereira is a speedy defender who likes to attack and catch opponents off-balance.