Gabri Veiga
{{Short description|Spanish footballer (born 2002)}}
{{family name hatnote|Veiga|Novas|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Gabri Veiga
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| full_name = Gabriel Veiga Novas
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|5|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = O Porriño, Galicia, Spain
| height = 1.84 m
| position = Attacking midfielder
| currentclub = Porto
| clubnumber = 17
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = UD Louro Tameiga
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Santa Mariña
| youthclubs3 = Celta
| years1 = 2019–2021
| clubs1 = Celta B
| caps1 = 63
| goals1 = 10
| years2 = 2021–2023
| clubs2 = Celta
| caps2 = 50
| goals2 = 11
| years3 = 2023–2025
| clubs3 = Al-Ahli
| caps3 = 50
| goals3 = 11
| years4 = 2025–
| clubs4 = Porto
| caps4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2019–2020
| nationalteam1 = Spain U18
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2022–
| nationalteam2 = Spain U21
| nationalcaps2 = 19
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Country|{{fb|ESP}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|UEFA European Under-21 Championship}}
{{Medal|RU|2023 Georgia–Romania| Team}}
| club-update = 22:35, 26 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 17:58, 8 May 2025 (UTC)
}}
Gabriel Veiga Novas ({{IPA|gl|ɡaβɾiˈɛl ˈvɛjɣɐ}}; born 27 May 2002) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Primeira Liga club Porto.
Club career
= Celta =
Veiga was born in O Porriño, Pontevedra, Galicia, and was a RC Celta de Vigo youth graduate. He made his senior debut with the reserves at the age of 17 on 25 August 2019, starting in a 2–2 Segunda División B away draw against Internacional de Madrid.{{cite web|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/gradario/2019/08/25/nueva-temporada-nuevo-juvenil-debutando-b/00031566738440567884428.htm|title=Nueva temporada, nuevo juvenil debutando con el B|trans-title=New season, new juvenil making his debut with the B-team|publisher=La Voz de Galicia|language=es|date=26 August 2019|accessdate=19 September 2020}}
Veiga scored his first goal on 1 December 2019, netting the opener in a 1–6 loss at CD Atlético Baleares.{{cite web|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/gradario/2019/12/02/gol-recuerdo-manana-olvidar/00031575281409439499272.htm|title=Un gol para el recuerdo en una mañana para olvidar|trans-title=A goal to remember in a morning to forget|publisher=La Voz de Galicia|language=es|date=2 December 2019|accessdate=19 September 2020}} He made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 19 September of the following year, coming on as a late substitute for Renato Tapia in a 2–1 home win against Valencia CF.{{cite web|url=https://as.com/futbol/2020/09/19/primera/1600547700_509441.html|title=La magia de Aspas tumba al Valencia|trans-title=The magic of Aspas bring down Valencia|publisher=Diario AS|language=es|date=19 September 2020|accessdate=19 September 2020}}
Veiga scored his first professional goal on 10 September 2022, but in a 4–1 away loss against Atlético Madrid. The following 11 January, he was promoted to the main squad, being assigned the number 24 jersey.{{cite web|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/gradario/2023/01/11/gabri-veiga-pasa-tener-ficha-primer-equipo-celta/00031673459249900334770.htm|title=Gabri Veiga pasa a tener ficha del primer equipo del Celta|trans-title=Gabri Veiga starts having a place in Celta's first team|publisher=La Voz de Galicia|language=es|date=11 January 2023|accessdate=31 January 2023}}
= Al-Ahli =
Despite strong interest from top European clubs including Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Napoli,{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Fabrizio |author-link=Fabrizio Romano |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jun/28/manchester-city-liverpool-chelsea-gabri-veiga-celta |title=Manchester City join Liverpool and Chelsea in race for Celta’s Gabri Veiga|publisher=The Guardian|date=28 June 2023|accessdate=26 August 2023}}{{cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=Las razones de Gabri Veiga para irse a jugar a Arabia |url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/futbol-internacional/2023/08/26/64ea158f268e3e512c8b45d4.html |publisher=Marca |language=es}} on 26 August 2023, Veiga joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, signing a three-year deal,{{cite tweet |author=Al-Ahli Saudi FC |author-link=Al-Ahli Saudi FC |user=ALAHLI_FCEN |number=1695428300338864497 |date=26 August 2023 |title=Bienvenido, Gabri! 💚 |access-date=26 August 2023}} after activating his €40m release clause.{{cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=Saudi Al-Ahli announced the transfer of the Spanish supertalent |url=https://dailysports.net/news/saudi-alahli-announced-the-transfer-of-the-spanish-supertalent/ |publisher=Dailysports}} Veiga's decision to reject interest from European clubs in favour of the lucrative contract offer from Saudi Arabia drew criticism from fans, media and fellow players for a perceived lack of sporting ambition.{{Cite web |last=Latham-Coyle |first=Harry |date=24 August 2023 |title=Toni Kroos calls Spanish 21-year-old’s transfer to Saudi Arabia ‘embarrassing’ |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/gabri-veiga-transfer-saudi-arabia-toni-kroos-b2398600.html |website=The Independent}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-24 |title=‘Embarrassing’: Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos blasts Gabri Veiga Saudi Pro League transfer |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/football/embarrassing-real-madrid-star-toni-kroos-blasts-gabri-veiga-saudi-pro-league-transfer/ar-AA1fIuU4 |website=MSN}} Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos labelled the move as "embarrassing".
On 3 May 2025, Veiga was a member of Al-Ahli squad that won the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time in the club's history, defeating Kawasaki Frontale at the final with a score of 2–0.{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=Joey |date=3 May 2025 |title=Never taking their eyes off the prize, Al Ahli are champions of Asia at long last |url=https://global.espn.com/football/story/_/id/44984369/never-taking-eyes-prize-al-ahli-champions-asia-long-last |access-date=4 May 2025 |website=ESPN}}
= Porto =
On 5 June 2025, Veiga joined Primeira Liga club FC Porto for a fee of €15 million, signing a five-year contract with the Portuguese side.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcporto.pt/pt/noticias/20250605-pt-gabri-veiga-e-dragao-ate-2030|date=5 June 2025|title=GABRI VEIGA É DRAGÃO ATÉ 2030|website=FC Porto|language=pt}}
He made his debut for the club, starting the match and played 67 minutes before being substituted, in a 0-0 draw against Palmeiras.{{cite news|title=FC Porto empata frente ao Palmeiras na estreia no Mundial de Clubes|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/8588734755/fc-porto-empata-frente-ao-palmeiras-na-estreia-no-mundial-de-clubes/|newspaper=O Jogo|language=pt|date=15 June 2025|access-date=16 June 2025}}
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|match played 19 June 2025}}{{BDFutbol|26424|access-date=20 February 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Copa del Rey, King's Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="5"|Celta B
|14 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 1 | ||||
| 2020–21
|Segunda División B |17 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in Segunda División B play-offs}} | 0 | 18 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22
|31 | 9 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 9 | ||||
| 2022–23
|1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!63 | 10 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 64 | 10 | |||
| rowspan="5"|Celta
|6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22
|La Liga |7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23
|La Liga |36 | 11 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 11 | |||
| 2023–24
|La Liga |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!50 | 11 | 6 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 56 | 11 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Al-Ahli
|18 | 4 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 4 | |||
| 2024–25
|Saudi Pro League |32 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 12{{efn|Appearances in AFC Champions League Elite}} | 1 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Saudi Super Cup}} | 0 | 46 | 8 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!50 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 66 | 12 | |
| Porto
|colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!163 | 32 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 188 | 33 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Al-Ahli
Individual
- La Liga Team of the Season: 2022–23
- La Liga Player of the Month: February 2023{{cite news|url=https://www.laliga.com/en-GB/news/gabri-veiga-named-laliga-santander-player-of-the-month-for-february|title=Gabri Veiga named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for February|date=2 March 2023|access-date=5 March 2023|publisher=La Liga}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://rccelta.es/en/jugadores/gabri-veiga/ Profile] at the RC Celta de Vigo website
- {{BDFutbol|26424}}
- {{Soccerway|gabriel-veiga-novas/627646}}
{{FC Porto squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Veiga, Gabri}}
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Footballers from O Porriño
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Primera Federación players
Category:Segunda División B players
Category:Saudi Pro League players
Category:RC Celta Fortuna players
Category:RC Celta de Vigo players
Category:Al-Ahli Saudi FC players
Category:Spain men's youth international footballers
Category:Spain men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Spanish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia
Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal
Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Portugal
Category:21st-century Spanish sportsmen
Category:AFC Champions League Elite–winning players
{{Spain-footy-midfielder-stub}}