Valente was born in Aveiro. A product of Boavista FC's youth system, he made his professional debuts 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. Previously, Valente served a one-year loan at G.D. Chaves in the second division.
Porto
In July 2006, Valente signed for an undisclosed fee with FC Porto but, in January 2007, after appearing just once, he was loaned to C.S. Marítimo, where he scored at C.D. Aves. Valente was loaned again from 2007 to 2009, this time at Leixões S.C. which had returned to the top flight for 2007–08. Alongside teammates Paulo Machado and Vieirinha, also loaned by Porto, he proved instrumental as the Matosinhos club not only retained its league status but finished in a best-ever sixth position the following campaign.
Braga / Académica
On 1 July 2009, Valente left Porto by mutual agreement, joining S.C. Braga for an undisclosed fee. As the Minho side finished in a best-ever second position he appeared rarely, sometimes not even making the squad of 18. Valente featured regularly for Académica de Coimbra during 2010–11, on loan. On 29 June 2011, he terminated his contract with Braga and signed a one-year deal with the Students; during his first year in his second spell he again rarely missed a game, and scored once in seven appearances in the season's Taça de Portugal, which ended in conquest after 73 years.
Later years
In late May 2012, Valente joined Romanian club CFR Cluj on a three-year contract, where he shared teams with a host of compatriots. He scored three competitive goals during his spell at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu, including one in the defeat to FC Dinamo București for the Supercupa României. On 20 August 2015, after an unassuming top flight spell at Gil Vicente FC, 30-year-old Valente moved abroad again and signed a one-year deal with Şanlıurfaspor in the Turkish TFF First League. He returned to his country and its second level at the end of the campaign, representing in quick succession S.C. Freamunde and U.D. Oliveirense; in July 2019 he dropped into the third tierfor the first time in his career, with S.C. Espinho.
