The Argentina international, who will be 34 in April, will pen a three-year contract at El Madrigal when his current deal at Mestalla expires.

"Villarreal have signed Ayala, who will play for the club from next season," read a statement on the club's official website.

Ayala recognised recently that he was likely to move at the end of the current season as there was no offer of negotiations from Valencia.

There was a breakdown in communication between the player, his agent Gustavo Mascardi and los Ché sporting director Amedeo Carboni last summer.

Mascardi was infuriated when Valencia stated that they would only put an offer on the table after Ayala had undergone a full medical check and criticised Carboni's lack of experience at the negotiating table.

That led to Valencia withdrawing their offer to discuss extending his stay at the club and Villarreal have been linked with move for his services for several months.

Despite being linked with Liverpool, Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur, Ayala has opted to move locally to join the South American contingent at El Madrigal.

After coming through the ranks at Ferro Carril Oeste in his native Argentina, Ayala moved to River Player in 1993 and soon attracted the attention of European scouts.

He opted to move to Napoli in 1995 and then made a big-money switch to AC Milan three years later.

In 2000 he joined Valencia and was a key figure as the club won the league title in 2001-02 and again two seasons later, when they also captured the UEFA Cup.

Ayala, who has played in three World Cups and won an Olympic Gold Medal in Athens, is set to make his 107th appearance for his country on Wednesday evening when they take on France in Paris.

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