A product of Boavista FC's youth system, he made his professional debut for the northerners in the 2004–05 season and quickly established himself as first-choice as the team achieved two consecutive sixth places in the Primeira Liga.
In July 2006, Valente signed for an undisclosed fee with FC Porto but, in January 2007, after appearing just once (albeit in an important match, a 1–1 away draw against Sporting CP),[2] he was loaned to C.S.
Alongside teammates Paulo Machado and Vieirinha, also loaned by Porto,[5] he proved instrumental as the Matosinhos club not only retained its league status but finished in a best-ever sixth position the following campaign.
He scored three competitive goals during his stint at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu, including one in the defeat to FC Dinamo București in the Supercupa României (on penalties, following a 2–2 draw in regulation time).
[14] On 20 August 2015, after an unassuming top-flight spell at Gil Vicente FC (less than one third of the games, relegation), 30-year-old Valente moved abroad again and signed a one-year deal with Şanlıurfaspor in the Turkish TFF First League.