José Luis Gayà Peña

José Gayà is a Spanish left-back born in Pedreguer on 25 May 1995. He joined Valencia’s academy at 11 and developed there after reportedly scoring more than 60 goals in one youth season as a striker. Gayà made his senior debut for Valencia’s reserves at 16 before making his first-team debut against Llagostera in the Copa del Rey on 30 October 2012. After Juan Bernat left for Bayern Munich, he established himself as Valencia’s starting left-back during the 2014–15 season and scored his first professional goal against Córdoba in September 2014. A committed runner and left-footed crosser, José Gayà combines overlapping attacks with tenacious defending from the flank. He assisted Kevin Gameiro’s opening goal in Valencia’s 2019 Copa del Rey final victory over Barcelona. Gayà later became Valencia captain and has remained with the club while representing Spain internationally.