A man has been arrested in Romania in connection with the murder of a woman who was found bludgeoned to death in 2013 at the Sussex village home she was house-sitting for friends.

Cristian Sabou, 28, a Romanian national, was detained in the northern town of Dej, near Cluj-Napoca, on Wednesday morning, said Sussex police, as part of a major investigation into the murder of Valerie Graves, 55, in Bosham, West Sussex.

Graves, an artist, had been staying at the property while the owners were away over Christmas. She was found dead in a bedroom on 30 December 2013 with head and facial injuries.

Valerie Graves. Photograph: Family Handout/PA

Detectives from the Surrey and Sussex major crime team were present when Sabou was arrested on Wednesday morning by Romanian police, who served a European arrest warrant which had been authorised by a district judge in the UK.

His extradition is now being sought through the Romanian courts and he is due to appear in court in the city of Cluj-Napoca to face extradition proceedings.

DCI Jon Fanner, of Sussex police, described the arrest as a major development, which followed detailed investigations in Romania by officers from the Surrey and Sussex major crime team.

“We have worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service throughout and they have authorised the prosecution. We have also had valuable support from the National Crime Agency’s overseas network,” he said.

“Valerie’s family have been kept informed of developments but they are not making any public statement at this time.

“We now hope to ensure, subject to the decision of the Romanian courts and judicial authorities, Sabou’s return to this country for an appearance before magistrates with a view to his being sent for crown court trial.”

Graves, who had two children, had moved from Scotland to Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex, shortly before her death.

She is believed to have been killed in a ground floor bedroom of the house, in Smugglers Lane, Bosham. She was attacked as she house-sat with her sister Jan, her mother, Eileen, and her sister’s partner while the property’s owners holidayed abroad over Christmas.