Gabriel Veiga Novas (Galician pronunciation: [ɡaβɾiˈɛl ˈvɛjɣɐ]; born 27 May 2002) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli.

Gabri Veiga
Personal information
Full name Gabriel Veiga Novas
Date of birth (2002-05-27) 27 May 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth O Porriño, Galicia, Spain
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
Al-Ahli
Number 24
Youth career
UD Louro Tameiga
Santa Mariña
Celta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Celta B 63 (10)
2021–2023 Celta 50 (11)
2023– Al-Ahli 30 (7)
International career
2019–2020 Spain U18 5 (2)
2022– Spain U21 17 (2)
Medal record
Representing  Spain
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up 2023 Georgia–Romania Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:16, 29 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:53, 19 November 2024 (UTC)

Club career

edit

Celta

edit

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.[1]

Veiga scored his first goal on 1 December 2019, netting the opener in a 1–6 loss at CD Atlético Baleares.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

Al-Ahli

edit

Despite strong interest from top European clubs including Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Napoli,[5][6] on 26 August 2023, Veiga joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, signing a three-year deal,[7] after activating his €40m release clause.[8] 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.[9][10] Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos labelled the move as "embarrassing".[9]

Career statistics

edit

Club

edit
As of match played 29 November 2024[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Celta B 2019–20 Segunda División B 14 1 14 1
2020–21 Segunda División B 17 0 1[b] 0 18 0
2021–22 Primera División RFEF 31 9 31 9
2022–23 Primera Federación 1 0 1 0
Total 63 10 1 0 64 10
Celta 2020–21 La Liga 6 0 0 0 6 0
2021–22 La Liga 7 0 3 0 10 0
2022–23 La Liga 36 11 3 0 39 11
2023–24 La Liga 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 50 11 6 0 56 11
Al-Ahli 2023–24 Saudi Pro League 18 4 2 0 20 4
2024–25 Saudi Pro League 12 3 1 0 5[c] 1 1[d] 0 19 4
Total 30 7 3 0 5 1 1 0 39 8
Career total 143 28 9 0 5 1 2 0 159 29
  1. ^ Includes Copa del Rey, King Cup
  2. ^ Appearance in Segunda División B play-offs
  3. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League Elite
  4. ^ Appearance in Saudi Super Cup

Honours

edit

Individual

References

edit
  1. ^ "Nueva temporada, nuevo juvenil debutando con el B" [New season, new juvenil making his debut with the B-team] (in Spanish). La Voz de Galicia. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Un gol para el recuerdo en una mañana para olvidar" [A goal to remember in a morning to forget] (in Spanish). La Voz de Galicia. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ "La magia de Aspas tumba al Valencia" [The magic of Aspas bring down Valencia] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Gabri Veiga pasa a tener ficha del primer equipo del Celta" [Gabri Veiga starts having a place in Celta's first team] (in Spanish). La Voz de Galicia. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  5. ^ Romano, Fabrizio (28 June 2023). "Manchester City join Liverpool and Chelsea in race for Celta's Gabri Veiga". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Las razones de Gabri Veiga para irse a jugar a Arabia" (in Spanish). Marca. 26 August 2023.
  7. ^ Al-Ahli Saudi FC [@ALAHLI_FCEN] (26 August 2023). "Bienvenido, Gabri! 💚" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 August 2023 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Saudi Al-Ahli announced the transfer of the Spanish supertalent". Dailysports. 26 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b Latham-Coyle, Harry (24 August 2023). "Toni Kroos calls Spanish 21-year-old's transfer to Saudi Arabia 'embarrassing'". The Independent.
  10. ^ "'Embarrassing': Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos blasts Gabri Veiga Saudi Pro League transfer". MSN. 24 August 2023.
  11. ^ Gabri Veiga at BDFutbol
  12. ^ "Gabri Veiga named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for February". La Liga. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
edit