José Gayà
{{short description|Spanish footballer (born 1995)}}
{{Distinguish|Josep Gayá}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{family name hatnote|Gayà|Peña|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = José Gayà
| image = Jose Gaya 2015 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Gayà playing for Valencia in 2015
| full_name = José Luis Gayà Peña{{cite web|url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf|title=FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Spain (ESP)|publisher=FIFA|page=27|date=15 November 2022|access-date=15 November 2022}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|5|25|df=y}}{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/jose-luis-gaya_prs331264/person.shtml|title=José Luis Gayá|publisher=Eurosport|access-date=17 March 2020}}
| birth_place = Pedreguer, Spain
| position = Left-back
| currentclub = Valencia
| clubnumber = 14
| youthyears1 = 2006–2012 | youthclubs1 = Valencia
| years1 = 2012–2014 | clubs1 = Valencia B | caps1 = 65 | goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2012– | clubs2 = Valencia | caps2 = 305 | goals2 = 8
| nationalyears1 = 2012 | nationalteam1 = Spain U17 | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2013 | nationalteam2 = Spain U18 | nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2013–2014 | nationalteam3 = Spain U19 | nationalcaps3 = 11 | nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 2013 | nationalteam4 = Spain U20 | nationalcaps4 = 4 | nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2014–2017 | nationalteam5 = Spain U21 | nationalcaps5 = 15 | nationalgoals5 = 1
| nationalyears6 = 2018– | nationalteam6 = Spain | nationalcaps6 = 22 | nationalgoals6 = 3
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|ESP}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|UEFA European Under-21 Championship}}
{{Medal|RU|2017 Poland|Team}}
| club-update = 18:35, 12 April 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 21:51, 19 November 2023 (UTC)
}}
José Luis Gayà Peña ({{IPA|ca-valencia|dʒoˈze ˈlwis ɡaˈja ˈpeɲa}}; born 25 May 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for La Liga club Valencia, which he captains, and the Spain national team.
An academy graduate of Valencia, he made his senior debut in 2012 and went on to play more than 350 competitive matches for the club, winning the Copa del Rey in 2019.
Gayà appeared in his first full match with the Spain national team in 2018, being selected for Euro 2020.
Club career
Born in Pedreguer, Alicante, Valencian Community, Gayà was a product of Valencia CF's youth system, where he started playing as a striker – scoring over 60 goals in one year – before switching to left-back.{{cite web|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/valencias-latest-left-back-sensation-chased-arsenal-and-yet-commit-mestalla|title=Valencia's latest left-back sensation chased by Arsenal and yet to commit at Mestalla|publisher=FourFourTwo|first=David|last=Cartlidge|date=3 February 2015|access-date=17 June 2015}} He made his senior debut with the reserves when he was not even 17, playing 21 minutes in a 1–0 away win against Andorra CF in the Segunda División B in what would be his only appearance of the season.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2012/01/30/pagina-26/7739489/pdf.html#|title=El Mestalla se reencuentra con la victoria gracias al tanto de Portu|trans-title=Mestalla find winning ways again thanks to Portu goal|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=30 January 2012|access-date=17 March 2020}}
On 30 October 2012, Gayà appeared in his first official game with the main squad, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 away victory over UE Llagostera in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2012_13/copa/dieciseisavos/ida/lla_val/|title=El Valencia resuelve a balón parado|trans-title=Valencia get job done through set pieces|newspaper=Marca|first=Ramiro|last=Aldunate|language=es|date=30 October 2012|access-date=12 December 2013}} He made his first appearance in the UEFA Europa League on 12 December of the following year, in a 1–1 group stage home draw with FC Kuban Krasnodar.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0210-0e87fc3746a7-7996b515e88c-1000--kuban-exit-after-valencia-draw/|title=Kuban exit after Valencia draw|publisher=UEFA|first=Delfín|last=Ramírez|date=12 December 2013|access-date=19 December 2013}}
Gayà played his first game in La Liga with the Che on 27 April 2014, starting and featuring the full 90 minutes in a 0–1 home loss against eventual champions Atlético Madrid.{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/uk/en/report/372868/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739|title=Garcia goal opens up gap|publisher=ESPN FC|date=12 December 2013|access-date=27 April 2014}} On 3 August, he scored the first goal in a 3–1 defeat of S.L. Benfica in that year's Emirates Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140803/benfica-1-3-valencia-match-report|title=Benfica 1–3 Valencia — Match report|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|first=Max|last=Jones|date=3 August 2014|access-date=7 August 2014}}
Gayà was made a starter by new manager Nuno Espírito Santo in the 2014–15 campaign. He scored his first goal as a professional and in the Spanish top flight on 25 September 2014, grabbing his team's second in the 3–0 home victory against Córdoba CF.{{cite news|url=http://www.superdeporte.es/valencia/2014/09/23/partido-directo-valencia-cordoba-online-horario-tv/235578.html|title=Alcácer, Gayà y Feghouli traen el liderato|trans-title=Alcácer, Gayà and Feghouli bring first place|newspaper=Super Deporte|language=es|date=26 September 2014|access-date=26 September 2014}} His second came in the domestic cup on 7 January of the following year, helping to a 2–1 win over RCD Espanyol also at the Mestalla Stadium.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2014_15/copa/octavos/ida/val_esp/|title=El Valencia aprovecha la inercia|trans-title=Valencia profit from inertia|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=7 January 2015|access-date=13 January 2015}} On 8 May 2015, he renewed his contract with the club, signing until 2020 with a €50 million buyout clause.{{cite web|url=http://en.valenciacf.com/ver/41095/jose-luis-gay%C3-renews-contract-through-to-2020.html|title=José Luis Gayà renews contract through to 2020|publisher=Valencia CF|date=8 May 2015|access-date=8 May 2015|archive-date=21 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421054201/http://en.valenciacf.com/ver/41095/jose-luis-gay%C3-renews-contract-through-to-2020.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2015/05/08/futbol/equipos/valencia/1431073636.html|title=Gayá renueva hasta 2020|trans-title=Gayá renews until 2020|newspaper=Marca|first=Fernando|last=Álvarez|language=es|date=8 May 2015|access-date=8 May 2015}}
File:Real Valladolid-Valencia CF, 2019-05-18 (24).jpg in May 2019]]
In May 2018, Gayà agreed to a further extension until 2023 with his release clause increasing to €100 million.{{cite news|url=https://en.as.com/en/2018/05/23/football/1527079084_002328.html|title=José Luis Gayà signs new five-year Valencia contract|newspaper=Diario AS|date=23 May 2018|access-date=5 February 2020}} That October, having been part of the side that kept a clean sheet against Manchester United in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, ESPN FC put him into their Champions League Best XI.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/uefa-champions-league/775/blog/post/3656865/champions-league-lionel-messi-and-neymar-plus-paulo-dybala-in-team-of-the-week|title=Champions League: Lionel Messi, Neymar and Paulo Dybala in team of the week|publisher=ESPN|first=Nick|last=Ames|date=4 October 2018|access-date=5 October 2018}} He finished the season with his first honour, assisting Kevin Gameiro's opener in a 2–1 defeat of FC Barcelona in the 2019 Copa del Rey final.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/25/barcelona-valencia-copa-del-rey-final-match-report|title=Valencia shock Barcelona in Copa del Rey final despite Messi’s best efforts|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Sid|last=Lowe|date=25 May 2019|access-date=17 November 2022}}
In March 2020, Gayà and teammates Ezequiel Garay and Eliaquim Mangala tested positive for COVID-19 virus during the coronavirus pandemic in Spain.{{cite web|url=https://espanol.eurosport.com/futbol/el-valencia-revela-la-identidad-de-los-cinco-positivos-por-coronavirus-que-tiene_sto7705035/story.shtml|title=😷 El Valencia revela la identidad de los cinco positivos por coronavirus que tiene|trans-title=😷 Valencia reveal the identities of their five positive coronavirus cases|publisher=Eurosport|language=es|date=15 March 2020|access-date=15 March 2020}} That August, due to the economic effects of the pandemic, the entire squad was put up for sale except him.{{cite web|url=https://talksport.com/football/744800/valencia-entire-squad-for-sale-jose-gaya/|title=EL CLEAROUT Valencia 'put entire squad up for sale' except for Jose Gaya in bid raise money as coronavirus devastates club's finances|publisher=Talksport|first=Jackson|last=Cole|date=12 August 2020|access-date=13 August 2020}} Having previously filled in as captain in the absence of Dani Parejo,{{cite news|url=https://www.superdeporte.es/valencia/2019/02/24/gaya-luce-primera-vez-brazalete/404027.html|title=Gayà luce por primera vez el brazalete de capitán como titular|trans-title=Gayà wears the captain's armband for the first time as a starter|newspaper=Super Deporte|language=es|date=24 February 2019|access-date=3 May 2021}} he took the role permanently as the midfielder was shipped to Villarreal CF.{{cite web|url=http://www.deportevalenciano.com/2020/08/18/capitan-gaya-hay-ayudarle-no-generarle-mas-problemas|title=Capitán Gayà: hay que ayudarle, no generarle más problemas|trans-title=Captain Gayà: we have to help him, not cause him more problems|publisher=Deporte Valenciano|first=Toni|last=Hernández|language=es|date=18 August 2020|access-date=3 May 2021}}
Gayà skippered Valencia in the 2022 Copa del Rey final, in which he scored in the penalty shootout that the team lost to Real Betis.{{cite web|url=https://www.cope.es/deportes/futbol/copa-del-rey/noticias/directo-final-copa-del-rey-betis-valencia-23-04-2022-20220423_2043293|title=El Betis levanta su tercera Copa del Rey tras ganar en los penaltis en una final histórica|trans-title=Betis lift their third Copa del Rey after winning on penalties in a historic final|publisher=Cadena COPE|language=es|date=12 April 2022|access-date=17 November 2022}} He was suspended for the first four matches of the following league season for criticising the referee's decisions in a game against CA Osasuna; his appeal was rejected at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.{{cite web|url=https://www.eldesmarque.com/valencia/valencia-cf/364043-escandalo-gaya-el-tad-le-mantiene-la-sancion-traicionando-todos-los-precedentes|title=Escándalo Gayà: el TAD le mantiene la sanción traicionando todos los precedentes|trans-title=Gayà scandal: CAS upholds his punishment betraying all precedents|publisher=El Desmarque|first=David|last=Torres|language=es|date=11 August 2022|access-date=18 November 2022}} On 19 October that year, he extended his contract to last until 2027.{{cite news|url=https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/laliga/gaya-renueva-valencia-2027-77429038|title=Gayà renueva con el Valencia hasta 2027|trans-title=Gayà renews with Valencia until 2027|newspaper=Sport|date=19 October 2022|access-date=17 November 2022}}
International career
Gayà earned 34 caps for Spain across all youth levels. On 26 May 2015, he was called to the full side for a friendly with Costa Rica and a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Belarus,{{cite news|url=http://www.sport-english.com/en/news/liga-bbva/espanyol-defender-ruben-duarte-will-train-with-del-bosques-spain-squad-june-4220094|title=Espanyol defender Ruben Duarte will train with Del Bosque's Spain squad in June|newspaper=Sport|first=Sam|last=Marsden|date=26 May 2015|access-date=7 September 2015}} but did not make his debut on either occasion.
Gayà played his first match on 11 September 2018, featuring the entire 6–0 home rout of Croatia in the UEFA Nations League.{{cite news|url=https://en.as.com/en/2018/09/11/football/1536687949_030758.html?omnaut=1|title=Spain – Croatia match report: UEFA Nations League|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Robbie|last=Dunne|date=11 September 2018|access-date=11 September 2018|archive-date=12 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912022014/https://en.as.com/en/2018/09/11/football/1536687949_030758.html?omnaut=1|url-status=dead}} On 3 September 2020, for the same competition, he scored the equalising goal in the 97th minute of a 1–1 away draw against Germany.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/news/0261-1049ec207594-00942b3dc82a-1000--germany-1-1-spain-gaya-saves-la-roja/|title=Germany 1–1 Spain: Gayà saves La Roja|publisher=UEFA|date=3 September 2020|access-date=6 September 2020}}
On 24 May 2021, Gayà was included in Luis Enrique's 24-man squad for Euro 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/euro-2020-news-live-england-squad-b1852654.html|title=Euro 2020 news LIVE: Sergio Ramos left out of Spain squad plus latest before England announcement|newspaper=The Independent|first=Jamie|last=Braidwood|date=24 May 2021|access-date=24 May 2021|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220617/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/euro-2020-news-live-england-squad-b1852654.html|archive-date=17 June 2022}} His input for the semi-finalists consisted of 77 minutes in the 5–3 extra time victory over Croatia in Copenhagen.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51198542|title=Croatia 3–5 Spain|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Emma|last=Sanders|date=28 June 2021|access-date=14 July 2021}}
Gayà was called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. In the pre-tournament training camp in Jordan, he suffered a right ankle sprain,{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/soccer/gaya-leaves-spain-practice-with-right-ankle-injury/2022/11/16/5454f6d6-6602-11ed-b08c-3ce222607059_story.html|title=Gayà leaves Spain practice with right ankle injury|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=16 November 2022|access-date=18 November 2022}} and was replaced by Alejandro Balde.{{cite news|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/seleccion-espanola/20221118/1001896296/federacion-anuncia-gaya-baja-luego-borra-tuit.html|title=Oficial: Gayà se pierde el Mundial|trans-title=Official: Gayà to miss the World Cup|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=18 November 2022|access-date=18 November 2022}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 11 April 2025}}{{ESPNsoccernet|178747}}{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/jose-luis-gaya-pena/228139/|title=José Gayá|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=15 December 2013}}
| 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"|Copa del Rey !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|Valencia B
|rowspan="3"|Segunda División B |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2012–13
|36 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 2 | ||||
| 2013–14
|28 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 1 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!65 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 65 | 3 | ||||
| rowspan="14"|Valencia
|rowspan="13"|La Liga |0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15
|35 | 1 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 2 | |||
| 2015–16
|20 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 11{{efn|Seven appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 1 | ||
| 2016–17
|27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18
|34 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 38 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19
|35 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 9{{efn|Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 49 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20
|24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|name=SdE|Appearance in Supercopa de España}} | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| 2020–21
|33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 1 | |||
| 2021–22
|24 | 2 | 7 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 2 | |||
| 2022–23
|31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=SdE}} | 0 | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24
|24 | 1 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 2 | |||
| 2024–25
|17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!305 | 8 | 34 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 370 | 11 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!370 | 11 | 34 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 435 | 14 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 19 November 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=30433|title=José Gayá|publisher=European Football|access-date=7 October 2018}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=7|Spain | |||
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total||22||3 |
{{updated|match played 5 September 2021.}} Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Gayà goal.
| class="wikitable"
|+ List of international goals scored by José Gayà | ||||||
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=center|1 | 7 June 2019 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands | {{fb|FRO}} | align=center|4–1 | align=center|4–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
| align=center|2 | 3 September 2020 | Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart, Germany | {{fb|GER}} | align=center|1–1 | align=center|1–1 | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A |
| align=center|3 | 5 September 2021 | Nuevo Vivero, Badajoz, Spain | {{fb|GEO}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center|4–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.valenciacf.com/en/sports/en-first-team-01/player/jose-gaya Valencia official profile]
- {{BDFutbol|301280}}
- [http://www.ciberche.net/histoche/jugador?player=999 CiberChe biography and stats] {{in lang|es}}
- {{NFT player|pid=71963}}
{{Valencia CF squad}}
{{Spain squad UEFA Euro 2020}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaya, Jose}}
Category:People from Marina Alta
Category:21st-century Spanish sportsmen
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Footballers from the Province of Alicante
Category:Men's association football fullbacks
Category:Segunda División B players
Category:Valencia CF Mestalla footballers
Category:Spain men's youth international footballers
Category:Spain men's under-21 international footballers