Javier Galán Gil (born 19 November 1994) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays a left-back, left wing-back or left winger for La Liga club Atlético Madrid.
Born in Badajoz, Extremadura, Galán represented CD San Roque Badajoz, CP Don Bosco and CP Flecha Negra as a youth.[2] On 20 June 2013, after scoring 12 goals for the latter's Juvenil A squad, he moved to CD Badajoz.[3]
Galán made his senior debut on 15 September 2013, playing the last 30 minutes in a 1–0 home win against CD Solana for the Regional Preferente championship.[4] He scored his first senior goal fourteen days later, netting the last in a 4–1 home routing of EF Emérita Augusta.[5]
Galán helped the Blanquinegros in their promotion to Tercera División during his first campaign.
On 9 July 2015, Galán joined Córdoba CF, being assigned to the reserves also in the fourth tier.[6] Upon arriving, he became an immediate first choice for the B's.
Galán made his professional debut on 12 October 2016, starting as a left back in a 2–1 Copa del Rey away win against Cádiz CF.[7] He made his Segunda División debut on 4 December, starting in a 2–1 win at CF Reus Deportiu.[8]
On 12 December 2016, Galán renewed his contract until 2020.[9] Five days later he scored his first professional goal, netting the first in a 2–1 win at Real Oviedo.[10]
Galán was an undisputed starter during the 2017–18 campaign; converted to a left back by manager Jorge Romero,[11] he went on to score two goals in 40 appearances as his side narrowly avoided relegation.
On 29 January 2019, Galan moved to La Liga side SD Huesca on a three-and-a-half-year contract.[12] He made his debut in the top tier on 1 February, starting in a 4–0 home routing of Real Valladolid.[13]
Galán immediately became a regular starter for the side, suffering relegation in his first season but immediately bouncing back as champions in his second. He scored his first goal in the top tier on 6 February 2021, netting the opener in a 1–2 home loss to Real Madrid.
On 31 July 2021, after suffering another relegation with Huesca, Galán signed a five-year contract with Celta de Vigo in the top tier.[14]
On 3 July 2023, Galán signed a contract until June 2026 with fellow La Liga club Atlético Madrid.[15]
On 24 January 2024, Atlético Madrid sent Galán on loan to fellow La Liga club Real Sociedad until the end of the 2023–24 season.[16]
Galán is physically likened to England international forward Wayne Rooney, with his nickname being Rooney during his youth career and Badajoz.[3]
| Club | Season | League | Copa del Rey | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Badajoz | 2013–14 | Segunda División B | 34 | 2 | — | — | — | 34 | 2 | |||
| 2014–15 | Segunda División B | 28 | 3 | — | — | — | 28 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 62 | 5 | — | — | — | 62 | 5 | |||||
| Córdoba B | 2015–16 | Segunda División B | 34 | 7 | — | — | — | 34 | 7 | |||
| 2016–17 | Segunda División B | 22 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 56 | 7 | — | — | — | 56 | 7 | |||||
| Córdoba | 2016–17 | Segunda División | 17 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | Segunda División | 40 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 2 | |||
| 2018–19 | Segunda División | 20 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 22 | 1 | |||
| Total | 77 | 4 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 84 | 5 | ||||
| Huesca | 2018–19 | La Liga | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | 16 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20 | Segunda División | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 1 | |||
| 2020–21 | La Liga | 37 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 1 | |||
| Total | 81 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 83 | 2 | ||||
| Celta Vigo | 2021–22 | La Liga | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | La Liga | 37 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 40 | 1 | |||
| Total | 74 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 79 | 1 | ||||
| Atlético Madrid | 2023–24 | La Liga | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | La Liga | 25 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6[a] | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| 2025–26 | La Liga | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 35 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 55 | 0 | ||
| Real Sociedad (loan) | 2023–24 | La Liga | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | |
| Career total | 399 | 18 | 23 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 437 | 20 | ||
Huesca
