Manuel Javier Vallejo Galván (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmanu βaˈʎexo]; born 14 February 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as winger or a forward for Racing de Ferrol.

Manu Vallejo
Vallejo with Valencia in 2020
Personal information
Full name Manuel Javier Vallejo Galván
Date of birth (1997-02-14) 14 February 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Chiclana, Spain
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Winger, forward
Team information
Current team
Racing Ferrol
Youth career
Sancti-Petri
2012–2015 Cádiz
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Cádiz B 94 (58)
2016–2019 Cádiz 25 (6)
2019–2022 Valencia 50 (7)
2019Cádiz (loan) 9 (2)
2022Alavés (loan) 11 (1)
2022–2024 Girona 7 (0)
2023Oviedo (loan) 16 (4)
2023–2024Zaragoza (loan) 29 (2)
2024– Racing Ferrol 0 (0)
International career
2019 Spain U21 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 June 2024

Club career

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Cádiz

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Born in Chiclana de la Frontera, Cádiz, Andalusia, Vallejo finished his formation with Cádiz CF.[1] He made his senior debut with the reserves on 25 January 2015, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 Tercera División away loss against Atlético Sanluqueño CF.

Vallejo scored his first senior goal on 17 May 2015, netting his team's second in a 3–2 loss at CD Mairena. On 18 October, he scored a hat-trick in a 7–1 home routing of CD Roda,[2] and finished the campaign with a career-best 23 goals.

Vallejo made his first team debut on 13 January 2016, playing the last 30 minutes in a 2–0 away loss against Celta de Vigo, for the season's Copa del Rey.[3] He made his Segunda División debut on 28 October of the following year, replacing Salvi in a 0–0 home draw against Rayo Vallecano.[4]

On 24 July 2018, Vallejo renewed his contract until 2021,[5] and extended it to a further year on 22 August, being definitely promoted to the main squad.[6] He scored his first professional goal on 12 September 2018, netting the winner in a 2–1 away defeat of CD Tenerife, for the season's Copa del Rey.[7]

Vallejo scored his first league goal on 27 October 2018, netting the equalizer in a 2–1 away defeat of CD Lugo. On 20 December, he further extended his contract, signing until 2023.[8]

Valencia

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On 7 February 2019, La Liga side Valencia CF reached an agreement with Cádiz to sign Vallejo; the player remained on loan at the Amarillos until June.[9] On 2 September 2019, due to the arrival of Thierry Correia, Vallejo changed his shirt number from 2 to 15. He made his debut in the top tier on 28 September 2019, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute for Maxi Gómez in 1–0 away victory against Athletic Bilbao,[10] and his Champions League debut on 5 November 2019 when he came on as a 59th-minute substitute for Lee Kang-in in a 4–1 home thrashing of French side Lille.[11]

Vallejo scored his first goal in the main category of Spanish football on 21 December 2019, netting a last-minute equalizer in 1–1 away draw against Real Valladolid.[12]

Loan to Alavés

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On 31 January 2022, Vallejo was loaned to fellow top-tier side Deportivo Alavés for the remainder of the season.[13]

Girona

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On 1 September 2022, Vallejo signed a three-year contract with Girona FC also in the top tier.[14]

Loans to Oviedo and Zaragoza

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On 27 January 2023, Vallejo joined Real Oviedo on loan until the end of the second division season.[15] On 23 August, he moved to fellow league team Real Zaragoza also in a temporary deal.[16]

Racing Ferrol

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On 20 August 2024, just hours after terminating his contract with Girona, Vallejo joined Racing de Ferrol in the second division.[17]

Personal life

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Vallejo's father, Javi, is also a footballer.[1]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 22 May 2021[18][19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cádiz 2015–16 Segunda División B 0 0 1 0 1 0
2016–17 Segunda División 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017–18 1 0 0 0 1 0
2018–19 33 8 2 2 35 10
Total 34 8 3 2 0 0 0 0 37 10
Valencia 2019–20 La Liga 10 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 12 2
2020–21 30 5 3 1 33 6
Total 40 7 3 1 2 0 0 0 45 8
Career total 74 15 6 3 2 0 0 0 82 18

Honours

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Spain U21

References

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  1. ^ a b "Diez pinceladas para dibujar al canterano Manu Vallejo" [Ten touches to sketch the youth player Manu Vallejo] (in Spanish). La Voz Digital. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  2. ^ "El Cádiz B le hace un siete al CD Roda" [Cádiz B make it seven over CD Roda] (in Spanish). Cádiz CF. 18 October 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Sin fútbol pero en cuartos" [No football but in the quarterfinals] (in Spanish). Marca. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  4. ^ "El Cádiz no carbura y no pasa del empate ante el Rayo" [Cádiz do not achieve it and do not go beyond a draw against Rayo] (in Spanish). Marca. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Manu Vallejo renueva hasta 2021" [Manu Vallejo renews until 2021] (in Spanish). Cádiz CF. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Manu Vallejo convence y se queda en el primer equipo" [Manu Vallejo convinces and stays in the first team] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Un final de auténtica locura clasifica al Cádiz en Tenerife" [An ending of madness qualifies Cádiz in Tenerife] (in Spanish). Marca. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Manu Vallejo renueva hasta 2023" [Manu Vallejo renews until 2023] (in Spanish). Cádiz CF. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Official Statement | Manu Vallejo". Valencia CF. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Manu Vallejo sigue creciendo y debuta en LaLiga Santander" [Manu Vallejo continues to grow and debuts at LaLiga Santander]. eldesmarque (in Spanish). 28 September 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  11. ^ "El talismán de Vallejo también funciona en Europa" [The Vallejo talisman also works in Europe]. eldesmarque (in Spanish). 5 November 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Valencia show the spirit of Real Madrid to draw with Valladolid". Marca. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  13. ^ "COMUNICADO OFICIAL | MANU VALLEJO" [OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | MANU VALLEJO] (in Spanish). Valencia CF. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Manu Vallejo reforçarà l'atac del Girona FC" [Manu Vallejo will bolster the attack of Girona FC] (in Catalan). Girona FC. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  15. ^ "Manu Vallejo, nuevo jugador del Real Oviedo" [Manu Vallejo, new Real Oviedo player]. www.realoviedo.es (in Spanish). 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Manu Vallejo, al Real Zaragoza" [Manu Vallejo, to Real Zaragoza] (in Catalan). Girona FC. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Manu Vallejo, nuevo jugador del Racing Club Ferrol" [Manu Vallejo, new player of Racing Club Ferrol] (in Spanish). Racing Ferrol. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  18. ^ Manu Vallejo at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  19. ^ "Manu Vallejo". SofaScore. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  20. ^ Begley, Emlyn (30 June 2019). "Spain U21 2–1 Germany U21". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
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