However, he found first-team chances limited at the former side and despite success in helping win the Portuguese Cup in 1995, he was loaned again in the 1996–97 season to Marítimo, also in the Primeira Liga.

[2][3] The following campaign, Valente helped his club to Portuguese and Champions League wins,[4] with the defender appearing in 11 games during the latter competition's run, ten of those complete.

[8] After another poor year, which included an ultimatum by Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa that ordered him to choose between club or national team, eventually leading to a suspension,[9] on 28 August 2005 Valente moved to Everton on a three-year deal worth €2.2 million,[10] under recommendation of mentor Mourinho,[11] after the English had lost regular left-back Alessandro Pistone to injury.

He took a while to adapt to the hectic pace of the Premier League, but became a regular from then on – in 2005–06 and 2006–07 he was considered first-choice, but faced stiff competition from Gary Naysmith; in February 2007, the Merseyside club took the option of a one-year extension to his contract, tying him until June of the following year.

[16] A full Portugal international since after the 2002 FIFA World Cup,[17] Valente was first-choice for the national side during the runner-up campaign at UEFA Euro 2004, played in home soil.