Álex Moreno
Spanish footballer.
Alex Moreno's career has been marked by steady progression and versatility as a left-back. Born on June 8, 1993, in Barcelona, Spain, Moreno began his football journey in the famed La Masia academy of Barcelona. After leaving Barça's youth setup, he embarked on a professional career that has seen him play for several Spanish clubs before making the move to the English Premier League.Moreno's professional journey started with UE Llagostera in 2012, where he spent a season before moving to RCD Mallorca B. His performances caught the eye of Rayo Vallecano, who signed him in 2014. During his time at Rayo, Moreno had a loan spell at Elche CF in the 2015-16 season, where he impressed and was voted as one of the best players in the Segunda División.
Upon returning to Rayo, he became a key player, helping the team achieve promotion to La Liga in 2018.In 2019, Moreno made a significant move to Real Betis, where he further developed his game and attracted attention from Premier League clubs. His performances at Betis led to a transfer to Aston Villa in January 2023, marking his entry into English football. After a year and a half at Villa, Moreno joined Nottingham Forest on loan in August 2024, with an option for a permanent transfer. This move to Forest represents the latest chapter in Moreno's career, offering him a new challenge in the Premier League.
Early life & youth football
Alex Moreno's early life and youth career were primarily shaped by his time in Barcelona's renowned La Masia academy. Growing up in Barcelona, Moreno was immersed in a football culture that prioritizes technical skill and tactical understanding. He joined Barcelona's youth system at a young age, developing his skills alongside some of Spain's most promising talents.At La Masia, Moreno honed his abilities as a left-back, learning the positional play and attacking principles that Barcelona is famous for. Despite showing promise, he didn't break through to Barcelona's senior team. This led to his departure from the club in 2012, at the age of 19, to pursue first-team opportunities elsewhere.
This early foundation at one of the world's most prestigious academies laid the groundwork for Moreno's technical proficiency and tactical awareness, traits that would serve him well throughout his professional career.
Professional career
Àlex Moreno's professional career began with UE Llagostera in the 2012-13 season, marking his first steps in senior football. After graduating from Barcelona's youth academy, Moreno joined Llagostera in the Segunda División B, Spain's third tier of football. This move represented a significant transition for the young player, as he stepped out of the structured environment of La Masia into the more physically demanding world of lower-division Spanish football.During his single season with Llagostera, Moreno made a notable impact, appearing in 27 league matches and scoring 2 goals1.
This impressive tally of appearances for a 19-year-old demonstrates the trust placed in him by the coaching staff and his ability to adapt quickly to senior football. In addition to his league appearances, Moreno also featured in 4 cup matches, bringing his total appearances for Llagostera to 31 across all competitions1. This experience was crucial for Moreno's development, allowing him to gain valuable playing time and adjust to the rigors of professional football.Moreno's performances at Llagostera caught the attention of bigger clubs, leading to his move to RCD Mallorca in July 20131.
This transfer represented a step up for Moreno, as Mallorca was competing in the Segunda División, Spain's second tier. The move to a higher division presented new challenges and opportunities for the young left-back.At Mallorca, Moreno continued to impress and establish himself as a regular first-team player. In the 2013-14 season, he made 31 appearances in the Segunda División, scoring 2 goals1.
This consistency in his performances demonstrated his ability to compete at a higher level and adapt to the increased demands of second-tier football. In addition to his league appearances, Moreno also played in one cup match for Mallorca1.Interestingly, during his time at Mallorca, Moreno also made 2 appearances for Mallorca B in the Tercera División, Spain's fourth tier, scoring 1 goal1. This suggests that the club was carefully managing his development, ensuring he got regular playing time while also challenging him at a higher level.
Moreno's total record for Mallorca across all competitions stands at 34 appearances and 3 goals1. This productive season at Mallorca further enhanced his reputation and set the stage for his subsequent move to Rayo Vallecano, where he would eventually make his La Liga debut. Àlex Moreno's time with Rayo Vallecano marked a significant phase in his career, spanning from 2014 to 2019. On July 15, 2014, Moreno signed a four-year deal with Rayo Vallecano, marking his move to a more prominent club in Spanish football.
This transfer represented a step up for the young left-back, as Rayo Vallecano was competing in La Liga at the time.Moreno made his La Liga debut for Rayo on September 14, 2014, coming on as a late substitute in a 2-3 home defeat against Elche CF. This debut, albeit brief, marked Moreno's first appearance in Spain's top flight, a significant milestone in his career. During his first season with Rayo (2014-15), Moreno made 11 appearances in La Liga and scored no goals.
He also featured in 2 cup matches, scoring once. This limited playing time in his debut season at the top level was not unusual for a young player adapting to a higher standard of football.The 2015-16 season saw an interesting development in Moreno's career. On August 13, 2015, he was loaned to Elche CF, who were then competing in the Segunda División following their relegation from La Liga.
This loan move was crucial for Moreno's development, as it provided him with regular playing time at a competitive level.At Elche, Moreno flourished. He made 40 appearances in the Segunda División, scoring 2 goals. Additionally, he played in 1 cup match.
His performances at Elche were so impressive that he was voted as one of the best players in the Segunda División by Marca, a prominent Spanish sports newspaper. This recognition highlighted Moreno's ability to excel even when faced with the challenge of regular first-team football in a competitive league.After his successful loan spell at Elche, Moreno returned to Rayo Vallecano for the 2016-17 season. Rayo had been relegated to the Segunda División, but Moreno's experience at Elche had prepared him well for this level of competition.
In the 2016-17 season, he made 37 league appearances for Rayo, scoring 4 goals, and played in 1 cup match. This marked a significant increase in his involvement and goal-scoring output compared to his first season with the club.The 2017-18 season was even more successful for Moreno and Rayo Vallecano. He featured in 40 league matches, scoring 3 goals, as Rayo secured promotion back to La Liga as Segunda División champions.
Moreno's consistent performances were crucial in helping the team achieve this success, demonstrating his importance to the squad.Back in La Liga for the 2018-19 season, Moreno continued to be a key player for Rayo. He made 36 appearances in the top flight, scoring 1 goal. Despite Moreno's efforts, Rayo were relegated at the end of the season, finishing 20th in the league.
Throughout his time at Rayo Vallecano, Moreno made a total of 124 league appearances across both La Liga and Segunda División, scoring 8 goals. He also featured in 3 cup matches, scoring once. These statistics demonstrate his consistency and durability, as well as his ability to contribute offensively from his left-back position. Moreno joined Betis on August 21, 2019, signing a five-year contract.
In his debut season (2019-20), he quickly became an integral part of the team, making 31 appearances in La Liga and 2 in the Copa del Rey. He scored his first goal for Betis on January 11, 2020, in a 3-0 Copa del Rey victory over Club Portugalete1.The 2020-21 season saw Moreno continue as a regular starter, featuring in 23 La Liga matches and 2 cup games. While he didn't score any goals this season, his consistent performances helped solidify his position in the team1.
The 2021-22 campaign proved to be Moreno's most successful at Betis. He played in 30 La Liga matches, scoring an impressive 5 goals - a career-high for league goals in a single season. One of his notable performances came on December 12, 2021, when he scored a brace in a 4-0 victory over Real Sociedad at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. This season also saw Moreno make significant contributions in cup competitions, appearing in 8 Copa del Rey matches as Betis went on to win the tournament.
He played 105 minutes in the final against Valencia, which Betis won on penalties, securing their third Copa del Rey title in history1.In his final partial season with Betis (2022-23), Moreno made 15 La Liga appearances before his transfer to Aston Villa in January 2023. He also featured in 4 continental matches, likely in the Europa League, though he didn't score any goals during this period1.Throughout his time at Betis, Moreno's attacking contributions from the left-back position were notable.
In total, he made 99 La Liga appearances for the club, scoring 5 goals. He also played in 12 Copa del Rey matches, scoring once, and made 11 appearances in continental competitions1.Moreno's development at Betis was evident, particularly in the 2021-22 season where he showed significant improvement in his offensive output. His performances during this period caught the attention of Premier League clubs, ultimately leading to his move to Aston Villa.
The highlight of Moreno's time at Betis was undoubtedly the Copa del Rey victory in the 2021-22 season. His contributions throughout the cup run, including playing in the final, were crucial to the team's success.Moreno joined Aston Villa on January 11, 2023, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around £13.3 million.
The Spanish left-back was given the number 15 shirt and made his Premier League debut just two days later, coming on as a substitute for the injured Lucas Digne in a 2-1 victory over Leeds United2.In his first half-season with Villa (2022-23), Moreno made 19 Premier League appearances, quickly establishing himself as a regular in the team. He played a part in Villa's impressive fourth-place finish, which secured Champions League qualification for the club12.The 2023-24 season, however, proved more challenging for Moreno.
His playing time decreased significantly, with only 21 Premier League appearances and 2 goals. He also featured in 3 cup matches and made 5 appearances in continental competitions, likely the Europa Conference League, scoring once. In total, he made 29 appearances across all competitions for Villa that season, scoring 3 goals2.Moreno's reduced role was partly due to Lucas Digne solidifying his position as the starting left-back.
Additionally, injuries hampered Moreno's ability to compete for a starting role. One such injury occurred on May 20, 2023, when he suffered a hamstring injury during a 1-1 draw against Liverpool. This injury required surgery and sidelined him for three to four months2.Despite these setbacks, Moreno did have some notable moments.
He made his return from injury on November 30, 2023, scoring his first goal for Villa in a 2-1 victory over Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League. He then scored his first Premier League goal on December 17, 2023, in a 2-1 away win against Brentford2.However, reports emerged that Moreno was struggling to settle in England. According to Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo, he was homesick and eager to return to his former club, Real Betis.
The left-back was reportedly willing to accept a substantial pay cut to facilitate a move back to La Liga, highlighting his strong desire to rejoin his former club1.As the 2024-25 season approached, Moreno found himself further down the pecking order at Villa. The acquisition of Ian Maatsen further limited his opportunities, and it became clear that a move away from the club might be necessary3.On August 21, 2024, Moreno joined Nottingham Forest on loan for the 2024-25 season.
The deal includes an option for Forest to make the transfer permanent at the end of the loan period34.
National team
Alex Moreno's senior international career has been notable for its absence rather than its achievements. Despite his consistent performances at club level in La Liga and later in the Premier League, Moreno has yet to receive a call-up to the Spanish national team. The closest Moreno has come to international recognition is at the regional level. In 2022, he was called up to represent Catalonia, his home region, in a friendly match.
This selection for the Catalonia team, while not an official FIFA-recognized national team, does highlight Moreno's standing as one of the top players from the region
Player’s style
Alex Moreno's style of play is characterized by his attacking prowess and versatility as a modern full-back. Known for his quick feet and sharp crossing ability, Moreno excels in providing an offensive threat from the left side of the pitch. His dribbling skills and ability to make overlapping runs make him a valuable asset in attacking build-up play.Defensively, Moreno is competent, showing good positional awareness and the ability to cover for center-backs when needed.
His speed allows him to recover quickly in defensive transitions. Moreno's technical skills, honed during his time at La Masia, are evident in his comfortable ball control and passing ability, making him adept at participating in his team's possession play and build-up from the back.His attacking contributions, including occasional goals, particularly from headers despite his modest height, highlight his all-round capabilities as a full-back in the modern game.