In Europe, he played for Cagliari in Serie A and Paris Saint-Germain in the French Première Division with Brazilian players like Raí and Leonardo .

Dely Valdés made his debut for Panama in a May 1991 UNCAF Nations Cup match against Honduras and earned a total of 44 caps, scoring 18 goals.

His final international was an October 2005 FIFA World Cup qualification match against the United States, just as his twin brother Jorge.

On September 14, 2010, Dely Valdés became head coach of the Panama national team[9] after FEPAFUT chose him over the Colombian Luis Fernando Suarez.

[10] They led Panama to the final round of World Cup qualifying but ultimately fell short, after which the Dely Valdés brothers were not retained as managers.