Fran Villalba
{{Short description|Spanish footballer}}
{{For|the Paraguayan film composer and pianist|Fran Villalba (composer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Family name hatnote|Villalba|Rodrigo|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Fran Villalba
| image = Fran Villalba Birmingham Aug 2019.jpg
| caption = Villalba with Birmingham City in 2019
| image_size =
| fullname = Francisco José Villalba Rodrigo{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Birmingham City |publisher=English Football League |page=4 |access-date=15 October 2019}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|5|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Valencia, Spain
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Santos Laguna
| clubnumber = 14
| youthyears1 = 2011–2016 | youthclubs1 = Valencia
| years1 = 2015–2018 | clubs1 = Valencia B | caps1 = 80 | goals1 = 8
| years2 = 2015–2019 | clubs2 = Valencia | caps2 = 1 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2018–2019 | clubs3 = → Numancia (loan) | caps3 = 39 | goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2019–2022 | clubs4 = Birmingham City | caps4 = 17 | goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2020–2021 | clubs5 = → Almería (loan) | caps5 = 46 | goals5 = 5
| years6 = 2021–2022 | clubs6 = → Sporting Gijón (loan) | caps6 = 38 | goals6 = 4
| years7 = 2022–2024 | clubs7 = Sporting Gijón | caps7 = 31 | goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2022–2023 | clubs8 = → Málaga (loan) | caps8 = 34 | goals8 = 1
| years9 = 2024– | clubs9 = Santos Laguna | caps9 = 20 | goals9 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2014 | nationalteam1 = Spain U16 | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2014–2015 | nationalteam2 = Spain U17 | nationalcaps2 = 17 | nationalgoals2 = 3
| nationalyears3 = 2016 | nationalteam3 = Spain U18 | nationalcaps3 = 2 | nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2016 | nationalteam4 = Spain U19 | nationalcaps4 = 2 | nationalgoals4 = 0
| medaltemplates =
| club-update = 15:42, 16 March 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Francisco José Villalba Rodrigo (born 11 May 1998) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga MX club Santos Laguna.
He began his career with Valencia and spent a season on loan to Numancia before moving to England in 2019 to join Birmingham City. He returned to Spain in January 2020 and spent the next 18 months on loan to Almería, before joining Sporting Gijón on loan for the 2021–22 season. After the loan was made permanent, he spent the 2022–23 season on loan to Málaga and 2023–24 with his parent club. He then signed for Santos Laguna. In international football, he has represented Spain from under-16 to under-19 level.
Club career
=Valencia=
Born in the neighbourhood of El Cabanyal, Valencia,{{cite web|url=http://www.superdeporte.es/valencia/2015/07/13/fran-villalba-joya-nuno/263682.html|title=Fran Villalba es la joya de Nuno|trans-title=Fran Villalba is Nuno's pearl|website=Super Deporte|language=es|first=Andreu|last=Alberola|date=13 July 2015|access-date=16 December 2015}} Villalba was a Valencia CF youth graduate. On 1 August 2014, after being linked to Liverpool,{{cite web|url=http://soccerlens.com/fran-villalba-rejects-liverpool-to-continue-with-valencia/147864/|title=Spanish 'jewel' midfielder rejects Liverpool contract offers|website=Soccerlens|date=1 August 2014|access-date=16 December 2015}} he signed a new four-year deal with Los Che.{{cite web|url=http://www.superdeporte.es/valencia/2014/07/31/fran-villalba-rechaza-liverpool-firmar/231237.html|title=Fran Villalba rechaza al Liverpool para firmar con el Valencia|trans-title=Fran Villalba rejects Liverpool to sign with Valencia|website=Super Deporte|language=es|first=Andreu|last=Alberola|date=1 August 2014|access-date=16 December 2015}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.superdeporte.es/valencia/2015/01/31/cronica-olimpic-mestalla-segundab/247243.html|title=El Mestalla cae ante el Olímpic de Xàtiva|trans-title=Mestalla falls against Olímpic de Xàtiva|website=Super Deporte|language=es|date=1 February 2015|access-date=16 December 2015}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://valencia.eldesmarque.com/valencia-cf/noticias/5104-fran-villalba-hara-la-pretemporada-con-el-primer-equipo|title=Fran Villalba hará la pretemporada con el primer equipo|trans-title=Fran Villalba will do pre-season with the first team|newspaper=El Desmarque|language=es|first=David|last=Torres|date=26 June 2015|access-date=16 December 2015}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2015_16/copa/dieciseisavos/vuelta/val_bka/|title=Un brindis por la vuelta de Negredo|trans-title=Cheers for Negredo's return|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=16 December 2015|access-date=16 December 2015}} Villalba made his La Liga debut on 31 December 2015, coming on in the 84th minute of a 1–0 away loss against Villarreal.{{cite web|url=http://www.superdeporte.es/valencia/2015/12/31/fran-villalba-debuta-liga/281456.html|title=Fran Villalba debuta en la Liga|trans-title=Fran Villalba debuts in the league|newspaper=Super Deporte|language=es|date=31 December 2015|access-date=31 December 2015}}
On 12 July 2018 he joined Segunda División club Numancia on a season-long loan.{{cite web|url=http://www.valenciacf.com/ver/85316/comunicado-oficial-i-fran-villalba.html|title=Comunicado oficial: Fran Villalba|trans-title=Official statement: Fran Villalba|publisher=Valencia CF|language=es|date=12 July 2018|access-date=12 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716115614/http://www.valenciacf.com/ver/85316/comunicado-oficial-i-fran-villalba.html|archive-date=16 July 2018}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldodiariodesoria.es/noticias/deportes/primera-expulsion_117054.html |title=Su primera expulsión |language=es |trans-title=His first sending-off |first=Félix |last=Tello |newspaper=Heraldo-Diario de Soria |date=18 September 2018 |access-date=20 January 2020 |archive-date=19 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919122151/http://www.heraldodiariodesoria.es/noticias/deportes/primera-expulsion_117054.html}}
=Birmingham City=
On 7 August 2019, Villalba signed a three-year contract with Birmingham City of the English Championship.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49272481 |title=Fran Villalba: Birmingham City sign midfielder from Valencia on a three-year deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2019 |access-date=8 August 2019}} 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-player-ratings-villalba-16734930 |title=Birmingham City player ratings: Fran Villalba is magic as Bristol City peg Blues back |first=Shane |last=Ireland |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=10 August 2019 |access-date=11 August 2019}} Although he did not readily adapt to the quicker, more physical style of the English game,{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/if-your-car-broken-clotet-17141437 |title='If your car is broken' – Clotet talks Bellingham, Villalba, the power of St Andrew's and much more |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=24 October 2019 |access-date=20 January 2020}} he was part of the starting eleven for the first four months of the season, apart from a spell out with a groin injury.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2019/blues-injury-list-continues-to-ease/ |title=Blues injury list continues to ease |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=19 September 2019 |access-date=20 January 2020 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021220756/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2019/blues-injury-list-continues-to-ease/ |url-status=dead }} He scored his first goal in a young Birmingham team that beat Middlesbrough 2–1 on 6 October{{snd}}another shot was "somehow kept out ... at point blank range"{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/10/04/odin-bailey-hero-birmingham-city-snatch-victory-death-middlesborough/ |title=Odin Bailey the hero as Birmingham City snatch dramatic late victory over Middlesbrough |first=Jon |last=Culley |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=6 October 2019 |access-date=20 January 2020}}{{snd}}but according to the Mail, "what earned him his 76th-minute standing ovation was the tireless pressing and harrying that characterised his second period."{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-player-ratings-middlesbrough-17035630 |title=How we rated Odin Bailey, Jude Bellingham & the rest in Birmingham City's Middlesbrough win |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=6 October 2019 |access-date=20 January 2020}} However, with considerable competition in attacking midfield from Dan Crowley and new arrival Jérémie Bela as well as the emergence of the 16-year-old Jude Bellingham, Villalba dropped down the pecking order and out of the matchday squad.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-player-ratings-camp-17243303 |title=Camp, Colin and Bellingham – How Birmingham City's players rate this season |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=6 October 2019 |access-date=20 January 2020}}
{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-pep-clotet-bela-17282099 |title='Three forwards' – The mouthwatering options open to Pep Clotet and Birmingham City |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=21 November 2019 |access-date=20 January 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-city-transfer-news-villalba-17580849 |title='Real interest' – Pep Clotet had this to say about Birmingham City star's future |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=16 January 2020 |access-date=20 January 2020}} The last of his 17 appearances came in a 3–0 defeat away to Hull City on 21 December.
Villalba's contract was extended for a further year in January 2020,{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-city-contract-news-villalba-22456994 |title=Surprising Birmingham City contract twist emerges |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=14 December 2021 |access-date=3 February 2022}} and he joined Almería on 27 January 2020 on loan to the end of the 2019–20 Segunda División season; the deal included an option to purchase.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2020/fran-villalba-returns-to-spain/ |title=Fran Villalba returns to Spain |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=27 January 2020 |access-date=27 January 2020 |archive-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127144919/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2020/fran-villalba-returns-to-spain/ |url-status=dead }} He scored once from five first-team appearances before football in Spain was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/12/real-madrid-players-in-quarantine-and-la-liga-suspended-due-to-coronavirus |title=Real Madrid players in quarantine and La Liga suspended due to coronavirus |first1=Sid |last1=Lowe |first2=Jamie |last2=Jackson |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=12 March 2020 |access-date=23 June 2020}} and once from four matches after the resumption, before his loan spell was extended to cover the remainder of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2020/loan-extension-granted-for-fran-villalba/ |title=Loan extension granted for Fran Villalba |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=26 June 2020 |access-date=26 June 2020 |archive-date=3 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003001214/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2020/loan-extension-granted-for-fran-villalba/ |url-status=dead }} He finished with 18 appearances as Almería failed to secure automatic promotion and then lost to Girona in the play-off semi-final.{{cite news |url=http://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/notice/1-2-almeria-die-with-their-boots-on |title=1–2: Almería die with their boots on |publisher=Unión Deportiva Almería |date=14 August 2020 |access-date=27 August 2020}}
Villalba's loan was extended to the end of the 2020–21 season in a deal that retained the option to purchase.{{cite news |url=http://www.udalmeriasad.com/en/notice/ud-almeria-extend-fran-villalba-loan-deal |title=UD Almería extend Fran Villalba loan deal |publisher=Unión Deportiva Almería |date=27 August 2020 |access-date=27 August 2020}} He made 30 league appearances as Almería again reached the play-offs and again lost to Girona in the semi-final, and the club chose not to retain his services.{{cite news |url=https://www.diariodealmeria.es/deportes/Villalba-Schettine-primeros-cedidos-no-continuaran_0_1581442440.html |title=Villalba y Schettine, los primeros cedidos en saber que no continuarán |language=es |trans-title=Villalba and Schettine, the first loanees to find out they won't be staying |first=Paco |last=Gregorio |newspaper=Diario de Almería |date=8 June 2021 |access-date=20 July 2021}}
=Sporting Gijon=
He joined another Segunda División club, Sporting Gijón, on 3 August 2021 on loan for the 2021–22 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2021/fran-villalba-moves-to-sporting-de-gijon-on-loan/ |title=Fran Villalba moves to Sporting de Gijon on loan |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=3 August 2021 |access-date=3 August 2021 |archive-date=3 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803172812/https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2021/fran-villalba-moves-to-sporting-de-gijon-on-loan/}} His first goal, from a shot that looped up off a defender and over the goalkeeper, opened the scoring in a 2–1 defeat of Leganés on 10 September that extended Sporting's unbeaten start to the season to five matches.{{cite news |url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/liga-segunda-division/20210910/1001686939/sporting-afloja-tumba-leganes.html |title=El Sporting no afloja y tumba al Leganés |language=es |trans-title=Sporting keep the pressure on and topple Leganés |newspaper=Mundo Deportivo |date=11 September 2021 |access-date=11 September 2021}} By the end of January 2022, he had 28 appearances, mainly as a starter, four goals and four assists, and the club confirmed that it had taken up its option to purchase. Villalba signed a four-year contract to come into force on 1 July, after the expiry of his loan.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-city-transfer-news-breaking-22946468 |title=Birmingham City transfer clause triggered for summer move |first=Richard |last=Cusack |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=1 February 2022 |access-date=3 February 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.realsporting.com/noticia/el-sporting-firma-a-fran-villalba-hasta-2026 |title=El Sporting firma a Fran Villalba hasta 2026 |language=es |trans-title=Sporting sign Fran Villalba until 2026 |publisher=Real Sporting de Gijón |date=1 February 2022 |access-date=3 February 2022}}
Villalba's transfer to Sporting Gijón for an undisclosed fee was finally confirmed on 24 June 2022,{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/fran-villalba-departs-blues |title=Fran Villalba departs Blues |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=24 June 2022 |access-date=24 June 2022}} but on 16 August, he moved to Segunda División rivals Málaga on loan for the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.realsporting.com/noticia/fran-villalba-no-continua-en-el-sporting|title=Fran Villalba no continúa en el Sporting|trans-title=Fran Villalba does not continue at Sporting|publisher=Sporting Gijón|language=es|date=16 August 2022|accessdate=16 August 2022}} The deal included an obligation to purchase if Málaga were promoted.{{cite web |url=https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga_cf/Fran-Villalba-talento-Malaga-CF_0_1711630325.html |title=Fran Villalba llega con opción de compra en caso de ascenso |language=es |trans-title=Fran Villalba arrives with an option to purchase dependent on promotion |first=Miguel Ángel |last=Gutierrez |website=Málaga Hoy |date=16 August 2022 |access-date=4 July 2024}} He supplied one goal and two assists from his 34 league appearances, and returned to his parent club at the end of the season after Málaga were relegated.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fran-villalba-transfer-update-after-27230975 |title=Fran Villalba transfer update after disastrous 12 months since Birmingham City exit |first=Alex |last=Dicken |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=30 June 2023 |access-date=4 July 2024}}
He found favour with new head coach Miguel Ángel Ramírez, and although an injury in pre-season prevented him establishing himself in the starting eleven, prompting suggestions of a possible departure on loan, although the player stated he wanted to stay.{{cite news |url=https://www.lavozdeasturias.es/noticia/sporting1905/2023/12/14/fran-villalba-dispuesto-salir-cedido-sporting-mantiene-rol-secundario/00031702590068869551166.htm |title=Fran Villalba, dispuesto a salir cedido del Sporting si mantiene un rol secundario |language=es |trans-title=Fran Villalba, willing to leave Sporting on loan if he retains a secondary role |first=Dani |last=Souto |newspaper=La Voz de Asturias |date=17 December 2023 |access-date=4 July 2024}} He did stay, managed 31 league appearances (14 starts), and helped his team reach the play-offs, in which they lost to Espanyol in the semi-final.
Although his priority was to become part of Sporting's squad under new coach Rubén Albés, the club had other ideas, which included reducing the wage bill. It proposed a move to a club with which it shared ownership, Santos Laguna of the Mexican top-flight Liga MX. After some days of thought, he agreed,{{cite news |url=https://www.elcomercio.es/sporting/novedades-sporting-fran-villalba-fichara-santos-laguna-20240626200229-nt.html |title=Novedades en el Sporting: Fran Villalba fichará por Santos Laguna |language=es |trans-title=Novedades en el Sporting: Fran Villalba fichará por Santos Laguna |first=Javier |last=Barrio |newspaper=El Comercio |location=Gijón |date=26 June 2024 |access-date=4 July 2024}} and the transfer was completed on 8 July 2024.{{cite tweet |user=ClubSantos |number=1810443423633100934 |author=Club Santos |author-link=Santos Laguna |title=A sudar la camiseta y defender el escudo, ¡𝗯𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗻𝗮! 🛡️⚔️🇳🇬 #PrimeroGuerreros |date=8 July 2024 |access-date=20 July 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.tudn.com/futbol/liga-mx/fran-villalba-es-refuerzo-oficial-santos-laguna-apertura-2024 |title=Fran Villalba es refuerzo oficial de Santos Laguna para el Apertura 2024 |language=es |trans-title=Fran Villalba is officially a reinforcement for Santos Laguna's Apertura 2024 campaign |first=Antonio |last=Quiroga |publisher=TUDN |date=9 July 2024 |access-date=20 July 2024}} He made his debut on 13 July as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw at home to Pumas UNAM.
Career statistics
{{Updated|match played 15 March 2025}}
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{UEFA player}}
{{Santos Laguna squad}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Villalba, Fran}}
Category:Footballers from Valencia
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Spain men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Valencia CF Mestalla footballers
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Sporting de Gijón players
Category:Santos Laguna footballers
Category:Segunda División B players
Category:Segunda División players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Spanish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Mexico