Fran Villalba

Valencia

Born in the neighbourhood of El Cabanyal, Valencia, Villalba was a Valencia CF youth graduate. On 1 August 2014, after being linked to Liverpool, he signed a new four-year deal with Los Che. On 1 February 2015, aged only 16, Villalba made his senior debut with Valencia's reserve team, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–2 away loss against CD Olímpic de Xàtiva in the Segunda División B championship. He appeared in two further matches during the campaign, both from the bench. On 26 June 2015 Villalba was called up to the main squad by manager Nuno Espírito Santo for the pre-season. He made his professional debut on 16 December, as a half-time substitute for André Gomes in a 2–0 Copa del Rey home win against Barakaldo. Villalba made his La Liga debut on 31 December 2015, coming on in the 84th minute of a 1–0 away loss against Villarreal. On 12 July 2018 he joined Segunda División club Numancia on a season-long loan. Villalba scored his first professional goal on 16 September 2018, the equaliser in a 1–1 draw away to Sporting de Gijón, and later in the match was sent off for the first time ever.

Birmingham City

On 7 August 2019, Villalba signed a three-year contract with Birmingham City of the English Championship. He made his debut three days later in the starting eleven for a 1–1 draw with Bristol City, came close to scoring from distance, and was the Birmingham Mail's man of the match. Although he did not readily adapt to the quicker, more…

As of match played 15 March 2025